THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 


CB 

N559n 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00032695860 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTIO 


iMJMiAP^m^  Mimmm 


>rm  No.  A^36B 


REV.  ALEXANDER  HERRITAGE  NEWTON,  D.D. 


Errata 


Page  19 — Line  1 — "Croven  St:"  should  be  "Cra- 
ven St."  Line  2 — "Nov.  ist:"  should  be 
"Nov.  5th" 

Page  25— Line  io-"iS58:"  should  be  "J852" 
Page    26 — Line     14 — "Bennington:"     should     be 
"Pennington"    Line  16—  "Timins,  Kinsley:" 
should  be  "Junius  Kinsley" 
Page  27 — Line  8— "1859:"  should  be  "1857" 
Page  33— "W.  P.    Wooster:"     should  be   "W.    B. 

Wooster" 
Page  58  -  Line  10 — "Charles  Beeman,  Rev.  Amos 
G.  Beeman:"  should  be   "Charles   Beeman, 
son  of  Rev.  Amos  G.  Beeman" 


.  Nt 

ft37 
PP 

=  c 


OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

^    c^n  (Autobiography   ^ 


AND: 


Sketch  of  the  Thventy-mnth  Regiment 
Connecticut  Volunteers 


"By  A.  H.  NEWTON.  D.  D. 

Member  of  the  New  Jersey  Annual  Conference 
of  the  A.  M,  E,  Church 

With  Introduction  by  Re'v.  J*  P*  Sampson.  D.  D* 


Printed    By 

THE   A.    M.    E.    BOOK   CONCERN 

Prtntrrfi  anb  Publistirra 

631    Pine   Street 

Phila..    Pa. 

1910 


Copyright^  igio 

By  Rev.  A.  //.  Xeuion 


AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  MY  DEAR 

CHILDREN  A.ND  TO  MY  WIFE 

LULU  L.  NEWTON 

— ]>v  the  Author. 


(Cautntts 


Page 

Preface    vii 

Introduction     xi 

My    Life— Ante     Bellunt     17 

My    War    Record    and    Sketch    of    the    Twenty- 

Xinth  Regiment,  Connecticut  \'ohniteers    ....        29 

My  Ministerial  Life  and  Labors    91 

The  Church;  What  It  is.  And  what  It  Should  Be.  147 

The    Xegro    Problem    I59 

Sermons    1 75 

Articles   and    Contributions    229 

Resolutions,    Etc 255 


IV 


ICtst  iif  JUufltraltmtri 


Page 
Rev.  Alexander   llerritage   Xewtnn    l-'mntispiece 

Rev.    J.    P.    Sam])S(in.    D.D 1 1 

A.    H.    Xewtnii    in    Military    Unif(n'ni    29 

Col.     W.    P.    W'oostcr     3  ■; 

Rev.    T.    J.     Hill     45 

P>ethel    A.    M.    E.    Clnirch,    Woodlinry    ;i 

Rev.   Alexander    H.   Xewton — A  young   Pastor    ...  91 

Bishop  Jabez   P.   Campbell,   D.D.,   LX.D 95 

Rev.    Theodore    Gonld.    D.D 97 

Bishop    William    Paul    Quinn.    D.D 99 

Bishop  John   TnI.    I'.nnvn,    D.D.,   D.C.L 115 

Rev.    J.   ^^'.    C<  )oper    117 

Macedonia   A.   M.   E.   Churc'.i.   C;  iiidcn    no 

Bishop    Henry    M.    Turner,    D.D 127 

Rev.    Joseph     M.     Morgan     t4J 

Rev.    Samuel    G.    Miller,    D.D M7 


Prrfarr 


\\'ith  no  intention  on  my  part  to  ever  put  in 
book  form  any  matter  concerning  myself,  many 
vears  ago  I  began  keeping  a  daily  account  of  the 
incidents  of  my  life,  reentered  into  this  work 
conscientiously  and  let  no  day  pass  over  my  head 
without  its  record.  I  did  this  that  I  might  im- 
prove myself  and  also  provide  for  myself,  family 
and  friends,  a  record  and  reference.  This  work 
has  grown  into  three  large  volumes.  I  have 
found  this  voluminous  diary  very  valuable  on 
many  occasions,  not  only  to  myself  but  to  many 
others. 

My  comrades  of  the  grand  old  Twenty-ninth 
Regiment,  Connecticut  Volunteers,  have  fre- 
quently written  me  regarding  persons  and  inci- 
dents of  the  Civil  War,  and  brethren  of  the  min- 
istry have  frequently  consulted  me  through  this 
diary  for  valuable  information.  This  has  led  me 
to  the  conclusion  tliat  this  knowledge  would  be 
more  valuable  and  in  better  shape  in  published 
form. 

So  I  determined  that  I  would  undertake  tiie 
work  of  publishing  my  autobiography  not  in  any 


^  ill  PREPACE 

egotistical  sense,  but  as  an  humble  service  to  my 
race  and  an  inspiration  to  the  young  people  of 
my  race. 

I  have  named  the  book,  "Out  of  the  Briars," 
because  the  figure  is  a  befitting  one  in  my  own 
life.  Although  free  bom,  I  was  bom  under  the 
curse  of  slavery,  surrounded  by  the  thorns  and 
briars  of  prejudice,  hatred,  persecution  and  the 
suffering  incident  to  this  fearful  regime.  I,  in- 
deed, came  out  of  the  briars  torn  and  bleeding.  I 
came  out  of  poverty  and  ignorance.  I  did  not 
have  any  of  the  advantages  of  the  schools.  I 
learned  what  little  I  know  by  listening  to  the  edu- 
cated white  people  talk.  I  picked  up  a  great  deal 
in  this  w^ay. 

I  am  sure,  therefore,  that  this  volume  will  be 
read  with  the  kindly  spirit  in  which  it  is  written. 
I  have  told  my  life  story,  and  am  now  seventy- 
two  years  on  my  journey  through  this  world.  I 
have  but  a  few  milestones  further  to  pass,  or  it 
may  be,  not  one  more;  but  at  any  rate,  the  chap- 
ters of  my  life  are  about  closed  and  I  am  ready 
at  any  time  to  answer  the  call  of  the  Captain  of 
ni}^  salvation. 

I  sincerely  trust  that  this  book  will  become  an 
inspiration  to  the  young  men  and  women  of  my 
race,  that  they  may  copy  my  good  qualities  and 
shun  my  weaknesses.  If,  in  a  small  way,  this  su- 
preme end  is  accomplished,  I  am  amply  repaid. 


PREPACK  i- 

I  desire  to  acknowledge  my  obligations  to  the 
Rev.  Samuel  G.  Miller,  D.D.,  Rev.  1.  W.  L. 
Roundtree,  D.D.,  Rev.  C.  A.  A.  Greene,  B.S.T.. 
Rev.  j:  P.  Sampson,  D.D.,  Rev.  George  E.  Bivin^. 
D.D.,*  Miss  Alice  MacParland,  and  my  wife 
Lulu  L.  Newton,  without  whose  encouragement, 
inspiration,  advice  and  assistance,  this  book  w^ouLl 
never  have  been  written. 

''Take  my  life  and  let  it  be, 
Consecrated,  Lord  to  Thee." 

Alexander  Herritage  Xewton,  D.D. 


iSnt.  3.  J9.  S>ampsmt.  9.9. 


Rev.  Dr.  J.  P.  Sampson,  a  friend  and  contem- 
porary, whose  picture  we  present,  though  at  that 
time  a  junior  among  them,  he  stood  in  the  front 
ranks  with  Geo.  ^^'atkins,  Douglas,  Garnett, 
Langston  and  Phillips  as  an  advocate  for  free- 
dom, not  only  with  eloquent  speech  but  through 
his  pioneer  journal,  Tlic  Colored  Citizen  at  Cin- 
cinnati, making-  it  ix)ssible  for  hundreds,  some 
of  whom  at  that  time  were  slaves,  since,  them- 
selves leaders,  now  declining,  but  who  took  their 
lessons  from  these  men,  he  was  largely  depended 
upon  by  the  anti-slavery  leaders:  scholar,  author 
and  advocate  for  civic  righteousness,  an  exem- 
plar and  teacher,  a  standard  for  those  who  fol- 
lowed, an  old  guard,  whose  life  with  others  are 
fuU  of  achievement,  yet  still  active,  cheerful  and 
happy,  editing  '*A  Jolly  People,"  among  other 
l30oks,  running  thousands  every  year,  few  col- 
ored men  are  better  known.  He  has  the  largest 
charity  for  an  enemy,  matures  graceftilly  and 
without  asperity ;  he  has  given  his  life  of  useful 
service  to  God  and  the  race.  A  graduate  frojii 
two  or  three  of  our  greatest  colleges,  especially 
in  theology  and  law,  and  filling  for  some  years 
various  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  civil 
service  of  the  government,  subsequently  giving 
up  all  secular  prospects,  he  entered  and  has  been 
for  nearlv  fortv  vears  in  the  active  ministry  of 
the  A.  ^l'.  E.  Church. 


REV.  J.  P.  SAMPSON,  D.  D. 


Jutruiturtiini 


To  be  i-ec[uestcd  to  write  an  introduction  to  a 
lx)ok  implies  some  acquaintance  with,  confidence 
in,  and  respect  for,  the  writer  thereof,  on  the  part 
of  the  author  of  the  book.     Some  authors  sohcit 
such  a  service  because  of  the  prominent  position 
of  the  writer,  rather  than  the  thorough  acquaint- 
ance which  he  has  with  the  author.     This  may 
bring-  an  added  vahie  to  the  1xook  and  some  of  the 
glow  of  honor  to  the  author.     But  in  this  case, 
we  are  sure  that  the  author  of  this  book  in  no 
way  sought  such  distinction  or  compliment;  for 
like  himself,  the  writer  of  this  introduction,  has 
come  out  of  the  same  circumstances  and  condi- 
tions, and  by  the  grace  of  God  and  his  common 
sense,  is  what  he  is.     Dr.  Newton  has  selected  a 
lifelong  friend,  a  comrade  in  the  toils  and  trials 
of  this  world,  a  co-worker  in  the  great  and  com- 
mon cause  of  humanity,  and  a  brother-minister 
in  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  present  him  and 
his  autobiography  to  the  public.     We  were  boys 
together,  and  he  was  a  schoolmate  of  my  broth- 
ers, J.  B.  Iv.  and  Jos.  Sampson,  being  taught  by 
Tohn  Steward  Stanley,  and  from  that  time  to  this 
good  (lav,  we  have  known  each  other  as  brothers. 


XI 


xii  INTEiODrCTrON 


Dr.  Newton's  life  has  been,  what  we  call  a  suc- 
cess, neither  rich  nor  poor,  but  of  easy  circum- 
stances.    This  is  to  his  credit,  for  a  man  of  our 
race  to  l)e  on  the  middle  ground  between  riches  and 
poverty^  proyes  that  Dr.  Newton  has  been  a  great 
economist  in  the  things  of  value,  such  as  money, 
time,  ability  and  opportunity.  He  has  wasted  but 
little  and  husbanded  what  he  had.    Wq  are  often 
tempted  to  make  wealth  the  basis  of  our  great- 
ness, but  Dr.  Newton  has  sought  a  much  grander 
foundation,  that  of  serving  his  fellowman.     He 
is,  therefore,  ending  his  life  career,  not  in  sullen 
disapix)intment  and  poverty,  not  in  the  gloateci 
greed  of  one  dying  rich,  but  with  the  conviction 
that  he  has  done  his  work  well  and  fought  a  good 
fight  and  that  there  remains  for  him  an  inherit- 
ance, incorruptible,  undefiled  and  that  fadeth  not 
away.    The  doctor  has  grown  old  gracefully.    He 
is  active  in  his  lalx)rs,  cheerful  in  his  disposition, 
buoyant  in  his  hopes,  and  confident  in  his  faith. 
He  is  more  than  three  score  and  ten  young*,  not 
old ;  and  he  looks  with  the  eye  of  a  concjueror  to- 
ward   the    glowing    sunset    of    his    life    battles. 
Every  day  that  he  lives  adds  new  joys  to  his 
lK>pes  of  a  glorious  immortality  beyond  the  vale 
of  tears. 

This  autobiography  is  tlie  outgrowth  of  Dr. 
Newton's  carefully  kept  diary.  It  is  the  fruit  of 
this  life  tree  of  his  doings.    Therefore,  it  is  very 


IXTRODrCTIOX  xiiL 


valuable  as  the  real  unfoldment  of  a  real  life  of 
constant   action,   habit   and   conduct.     It   is   the 
practical  realization  of  the  ideals  of  the  author — 
this  indeed,. makes  it  a  real  and  true  monument  of 
his  life.     Some  of  these  ideals  made  real,  are  a 
true  and  genuine  charity;   devotion  to  duty;  a 
hieh  sense  of  moralitv;  a  love  of  humanity;  a 
lovaltv  to  oovernment ;  a  hatred  of  sin  and  evil :  a 
diligence  in  business ;  a  faithful  husband,  father 
and  friend.    Like  Bishop  Henry  :\IcXeal  Turner, 
he  was  too  great  to  be  little,  and  too  humble  to 
be  great.     He  always  seemed  to  be  less  than  he 
.was,  the  fulfilment  was  greater  than  his  promises, 
the  work  greater  than  the  plan.     He  was  always 
the  champion  of  the  down  trodden  and  the  op- 
pressed.   He  was  ready  to  enter  their  cause  with 
an  army  and  to  die  with  others  for  their  welfare, 
or  to  go  alone  to  his  death.    In  all  issues  of  right 
against  wrong,  Dr.  Newton  has  been  a  Daniel. 

After  his  war  career,  in  1872,  Dr.  Xewton  en- 
tered the  ministry  of  the  African  :Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  in  which  he  has  labored  most  faith- 
fully to  the  present  time.  He  has  been  a  most 
successful  preacher  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and 
great  builder  of  churches,  in  their  membership 
and  edifices.  The  Church  never  had  a  better  Pre- 
siding Elder,  beloved  by  all  the  pastors  of  fine 
executive  ability  and  sympathetic  and  wise  in  his 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 


advice.  He  has  had  a  remarkable  success  during 
the  forty  years  of  his  ministerial  life. 

Before  the  war.  Dr.  Newton  was  a  member  of 
the  Alx>lition  jNIovement  and  did  some  daring 
deeds  in  liberating  slaves.  From  that  time  on,  he 
has  been  the  faithful  friend  of  the  race,  seeking 
in  every  possible  way,  to  uplift  them.  He  lias 
ever  been  the  staunch  advocate  of  higher  educa- 
tion for  the  masses  and  especially  of  the  ministry. 
During  the  war.  as  his  record  herein  shows,  he 
was  a  daring  soldier,  doing  what  he  could  on  the 
battlefield  to  liberate  his  race. 

He  was  the  trusted  adviser  of  all  his  Bishops, 
Past  Masters  of  Thirty-third  Degree  Masons, 
Supreme  Prelate  of  the  Supreme  Lodge  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  of  North  America,  South 
America,  Europe,  Asia,  Africa  and  Australia; 
Commissary  Sergeant  in  the  Civil  War;  in  all 
these  functions  of  service,  he  proved  himself  a 
worthy  officer  and  servant. 

Like  Booker  T.  Washington,  he  has  come  up 
out  of  great  struggles  and  trials  and  has  made 
himself  strong  thereby.  He  educated  all  his  chil- 
dren in  the  schools  and  colleges  of  our  country ; 
bought  his  own  home  and  was  successful  in  busi- 
ness lines,  and  last  but  by  no  means  least,  at  the 
age  of  70  years,  entered  the  Bible  College  of 
Pliiladelphia  and  completed  the  regular  course  in 
that  institution,  mastering  New  Testament  Greek, 


INTKODl  CTroN 


Hebrew,  ^Fental  I*hilosoi)hy,  and  the  regular 
studies  of  the  course.  In  190x7  he  was  honored 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the 
same  institution,  a  most  befitting  honor  for  such 
a  man  and  such  a  Hfe. 

'"Out  of  the  Briars"  oui>ht  to  be  a  great  inspi- 
ration to  our  young  people,  a  real  monument  to 
this  great  man  and  great  life,  and  a  legacy  of 
value  to  the  race.  Dr.  Newton  is  an  uncrowned 
Bishop,  yet  a  real  Bishop.  He  has  been  my  faith- 
ful and  consistent  friend  through  all  the  ups  and 
downs  of  my  life.  In  poverty,  adversity,  in  the 
times  of  need,  he  has  been  the  friend,  indeed. 
Whether  as  chaplain  of  a  State  Legislature  or  the 
humble  pastor  of  a  small  church,  he  has  been  the 
same  great  man  of  God. 

This  book  will  be  an  ornament  to  every  library 
as  well  as  a  most  valuable  acquisition  thereto. 
"May  his  tribe  increase,"  is  my  prayer,  and  may 
our  people  follow  this  heroic  and  noble  leader,  to 
whom  he  has  given  his  life  of  faithful,  constant 
and  unstinted  service. 

J.  P.  SAMPSON,  D.D., 
P.  E.  Boston  District.  Asbury  Park.  N.  T. 

May  15,  1910. 


nig  Utfe 


Ctft— Autr-Sellitm 


I  was  born  in  Xewbern,  Cjoyen    st.,  Craven 
County,  N.  C,  November  the  first,  1837.     I  was 
born  under  the  regime  of  slavery,  a  free  child, 
my  mother  being  a  free  woman.     My  childhood 
was  the  ordinary  child  life,  of  the  colored  chil- 
dren of  the  South.     As  a  mere  child,  I  looked 
out  upon  the  world  as  beautiful  and  felt  that  all 
men  and  women  were  good  and  kind.     I  did  not 
know  of  the  distinctions,  classes,  conditions  and 
grades  of  mankind.     But  as  I  grew  older  these 
distinctions  were   forced  upon  my  tender  heart 
ancl  burned  into  my  mind.     I  gradually  came  to 
realize  my  said  condition,  although  free,  and  the 
sad   condition  of   my   race.     My   father   was  -a 
slave,    so   that    in    my    family,    I    learned   what 
slavery  was,  I  felt  its  curse  in  my  bones  and  1 
longed    for   an   opportunity    and   the   power   to 
play  the  part  of  a  Moses  in  behalf  of  my  people. 
I  suppose  that  this  was  the  wild  dream  of  every 
child   born   during   slavery.      The    awful    condi- 
tion of  my  people,  the  steel  shackles  of  slavery, 
the  slave  block  of  the  market  place  where  hus- 
bands   and    wives,    parents    and    children,    were 

19 


20  OT  T  OF  THE   F,RTARS 

ruthlessly  torn  apart  and  scattered  asunder,  the 
whipping-  post,  the  slave  quarters,  the  inhuman 
restrictions,  such  as  denial  of  our  own  religious 
privileges,  no  ministers  or  churches  of  our  race, 
no  educational  advantages  to   speak  of,  no   so- 
cial freedom  among  ourselves,  these  were  some 
of  the  unspeakable  conditions  of  my  childhood 
life.     But  there  was  the  bright  and  happy  side 
of  my  life  when  a  boy.     With  the  thoughless- 
ness,    the    happy-go-lucky    spirit   of    the   boy,    I 
entered    into   those   plays    and    pleasures    which 
make   up   the   pastime   of   youth.      I    recall   the 
many   boys   and   girls,   both   white   and   colored, 
who  were  my  mates  in  games  and  pranks.     Like 
?M  toys,  I  had  my  little  adventures,  which  were 
not  always  on  the  side  of  the  right.     One  of  the 
first  practical  lessons,  I  believe  the  first,  that  I 
ever   had    regarling-  the   sterling   worth   of    my ' 
mother   I   most   vividly    recall.      Together   with 
some  other  boys,  we  were  guilty  of  stealing  some 
peaches.     It  was  not  the  proverbial  watermelon 
this  time.     Fortunately  we  were  cauglit  by  the 
proprietor   of   the   orchard.      It   would   be    for- 
tunate if  all  thieves  were  caught.     I  V\a5  taken 
in  charge.     I  began  to  cry  vigorously.     I  was 
asked  what  I  wanted  done  with  me.  I  begged  to 
be  taken  home  to  my  mother.    This  request  was 
§:ranted.     Soon  I  was  facing  my  mother.     The 


MY    LIFE— AXTK-liEr JAM  Jl 

gentleman  told  her  of  my  offense.  I  expected, 
of  course,  that  my  mother  would  in  some  way 
intercede  and  waited  with  breathless  expectation 
for  some  defense  or  some  excuse  or  some  re- 
lease from  my  awful  predicament.  But  my 
heart  sank  within  me  when  she  said  to  the  man. 
''I  have  no  thieves  in  my  family."  So  I  was 
led  away  to  face  some  fearful  ordeal,  I  knew  not 
what.  When  a  boy's  mother  turns  against  him 
for  his  evil-doings,  there  is  no  hope  for  him. 
But  my  tears,  cries  and  youth  touched  the  man's 
heart  and  after  leading  me  away  from  home 
towards  the  jail  for  a  distance,  he  released  me 
with  some  good  advice.  I  learned  in  that  wrong- 
doing that  I  need  never  expect  my  mother  to 
uphold  me  in  the  slightest  departure  from  the 
right  path.  It  was  a  wonderful  leSson  and  I 
-doubt  not,  had  a  fine  effect  on  my  entire  life. 

I  recall  another  experience  which  wa's  much 
more  severe  in  a  physical  way.  Iwas  bound  out 
to  a  white  man,  Jacob  G.  Gooding,  and  placed 
under  his  foreman,  Henry  E.  Bryan.  I  was 
•ordered  to  carrv  a  bench  some  distance.  Then 
the  devil  said  to  me,  '*You  are  not  a  horse,  why 
should  you  be  doing  the  work  of  a  horse?"  I 
said  to  myself,  this  is  true.  So  I  decided  that  I 
would  not  do  the  work  of  a  horse.  Well,  he 
soon   came    to   see   what   the    trouble    was    and 


22  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

found  me  and  the  bench  together.  He  wanted 
to  know  why  I  had  not  obeyed  his  orders,  I 
told  him  that  I  was  no  horse,  that  he  could  get 
a  horse  and  cart  and  have  that  bench  taken 
where  he  wanted  it.  We  were  soon  in  each  other' s 
embrace  engaged  in  a  street  fight.  We  were  ar- 
rested and  tried  and  sentenced  to  a  whipping. 
Well,  I  was  in  for  punishment,  and  being  a  free 
boy,  the  slave  overseer  nor  his  master  could 
punish  me.  I  was  reported  to  my  employer.  The 
punishment  decided  on  was  forty  lashes  save 
one.  So  I  was  stripped  and  my  employer  plied 
the  lash  thirty-nine  times.  My  back  was  lacerat- 
ed and  very  painfuland  for  three  weeks  I  .was 
unable  to  do  any  work.  I  suppose  that  I  could 
have  gone  to  work  sooner,  but  I  was  determined 
that  my  punishment  should  cost  my  employer 
something  as  well  as  myself.  It  cost  me  thirty- 
nine  lashes  and  the  suffering  and  it  cost  him 
the  loss  of  three  weeks  of  my  labor.  This  is 
but  an  illustration  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
colored  people,  even  the  free-born,  were  gen- 
erally treated  for  their  ofifenses.  They  were  treat- 
ed frequently  worse  than  the  brutes.  For  they 
knew  that  the  Negro  had  enough  intelligence  to 
understand  what  his  punishment  meant  and  that 
the  purpose  of  it  was  to  reduce  and  keep  him- 
in  perpetual  servitude.     This,  of  course,  had  to 


MY    LIFE— ANTE-BELLUM  i8 

be  done  by  mere  brute  force.  But  as  the  result 
of  slavery  there  were  many  young  men  of  the 
race  who  learned  well  some  trade.  They  were 
apprenticed,  as  in  my  case,  to  some  good  work- 
man, for  at  least  four  years  or  more.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  they  were  efficient,  practical 
workmen  who,  if  free,  could  command  good 
wages.  So  that  hundreds  of  fine  artisans  came 
of  slavery  who  were  able  to  begin  at  once  the 
laying  of  the  foundation  of  tlie  history  of  a 
free  people.  They  took  up  their  several  trades, 
and  for  both  races,  turned  their  hands  to  every 
advantage.  It  should  always  be  remembered  that 
the  magnificent  civilization  of  the  South  as  to 
its  material  wealth  and  prosperity,  was  built  up 
by  the  slaves  of  the  South.  The  cities,  the 
country  homes,  the  plantations  and  all  their  im- 
provements, the  planting,  cultivating,  and  har- 
vesting of  the  crops,  all  was  done  by  Negro  la- 
bor. So  that  there  should  be  set  over  to  the 
account  of  the  Negro  race,  not  only  their  own 
progress  since  tlie  Civil  War,  but  also  the  pro- 
gress of  the  south  for  at  least  a  century  before 
the  war.  There  is  another  incident  in  my  life 
at  this  time  which  may  be  interesting  and  also 
illustrate  something  of  the  workings  of  that 
noted  system  of  bringing  slaves  to  the  North. 
That   system  of   exporting   slaves   is   known   in 


24  Ol  T  OP  THE  BRIARS 

history  as  ''The  Underground  Railroad."  I  was, 
of  course,  deeply  interested  in  this  means  of 
travel  in  those  davs  and  tried  to  o^et  all  the 
passengers  for  this  railroad  that  I  could  find. 
My  boss-foreman,  H.  E.  Bryan,  had  disobeyed 
his  master  and  was  threatened  to  be  whipped. 
I  assisted  him  to  a  place  of  safety.  In  all  the 
slaveholders'  dwellings,  slaves  were  employed  iii 
the  house.  They  practically  had  full  charge  of 
affairs,  and  especially  in  the  dining  room,  kitch- 
en, etc.  This  part  of  the  house  was  very  sel- 
dom inspected,  excepting  to  see  that  things  were 
kept  clean  and  orderly.  \\t\\,  I  dressed  this 
slave  up  in  a  woman's  garb  and  conducted  him 
through  the  streets  to  the  house  of  one,  Mr. 
Primrose,  a  man  who  stood  high  in  the  commun- 
ity, and  held  the  confidence  of  all  slaveholders  as 
one  of  them  and  one  of  their  defenders  and  sup- 
porters,  a  matter  of  course.  I  was  successful 
in  getting  my  charge  safely  into  the  kitchen. 
Then  with  the  assistance  of  the  slaves  in  charge 
of  the  kitchen,  we  placed  him  in  the  attic  at  the 
rear  of  the  house,  above  the  kitchen.  Here  we 
safely  secreted  him  and  here  he  was  fed  on  the 
best  of  the  land  for  a  long  while.  There  was  a 
most  diligent  search  made  for  the  slave  in  tiie 
town  and  throughout  the  country.  A  reward  was 
ofifered  and  he  was  advertised,  but  all  to  no  avail. 


MY    LIFE— AIsTE-P.Er.Lr>r  2.-, 

He  could  not  be  found  high  or  low.  At  last 
things  quieted  down  and  we  found  opportunity 
to  put  him  on  this  mystic  train  and  send  him 
to  a  clime  where  he  enjoyed  his  freedom.  This 
was  indeed  a  daring  attempt  of  mine,  but  it  was 
in  me  to  do  it  with  a  great  deal  of  delight.  And 
from  that  day  to  this,  I  have  been  proud  of  this 
one  feat  of  my  boyhood  life  which  was  on  the 
side  of  ri^ht  and  humanity. 

In  185^  I  was  bound  out  to  ^Ir.  Jacob  Good- 
ing to  learn  the  trade  of  bricklaying  and  plas- 
tering, in  Xewbern,  N.  C.  I  worked  for  him 
four  years  having  thoroughly  learned  the  trade. 
Having  finished  the  course  satisfactorily  to  ^h\ 
Gooding,  he  gave  me  $6,  a  suit  of  clothes,  set  of 
tools,  and  a  Bible,  and  the  advice  to  be  a  good 
boy.  Afterwards  I  worked  for  ^Ir.  Eusten. 
Then  I  decided  that  I  would  quit  work  and  seek 
new  fields.  The  occasion  of  my  coming  to  this 
decision  was  as  follows:  ]\Ir.  Eusten  gave  orders 
that  I  should  work  on  the  fourth  of  July.  I 
made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  not  work  on  that 
day.  Of  course,  this  was  disobedience  and  would 
have  called  for  punishment.  So  I  had  to  do 
something.  I  cleaned  up  my  tools,  packed  them 
away,  and  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1857  left  for 
Beaufort,  N.  C.  There  I  went  on  board  a 
schooner  and  became  cook,  receiving  $7.00   for 


2«  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

my  services.  This  schooner  was  en  route  for 
New  York  City.  When  I  landed  at  pier  28 
East  River  I  had  only  ni}'  wages.  I  met  a 
friend  from  the  South,  Mr.  Alexander  Hicks, 
and  we  arranged  a  plan  by  which  I  should 
escape  from  the  schooner.  He  helped  me  with 
my  trunk  and  we  carried  it  to  a  horse  car  and 
landed  at  100  Sands  st..  Brooklyn.  I  soon  found 
my  mother  who  had  preceded  me  to  the  North. 
She  was  engaged  in  collecting  money  for  buying 
my  father's  freedom.  She  was  aided  in  this 
work  by  the  Abolitionists,  among  whom  were 
Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Rev.  Henry  High- 
land Garnett,  Rev.  Mr.  Bennington,  Mr.  Ar- 
thur Tapin,  Air.  Theodore  Tilton  and  others. 
]\Ir.  Timins,  Kinsley,  Thomas,  and  Robert  Hamil- 
ton. Moses  Goss,  Ebenezer  Chambers  and  others, 
assisted  me  in  getting  work.  I  was  able  to  at- 
tend school  some.  W^hile  at  school  I  made  the 
acquaintance  of  ^Iv.  William  F.  Powell,  who 
has  made  his  mark  in  the  world  and  was  honored 
by  President  AIcKinley  with  the  position  of  min- 
ister to  Hayti.  Some  of  the  other  boys  were 
Ben  ]\Iyrs  and  Wash  Parker,  working  against 
great  odds  and  prejudice  but  aiming  to  make 
tliemselves  an  honor  and  credit  to  the  Negro 
race.  Many  of  these  boys  are  now  filling"  good 
]x»sitions  and  have  made  themselves  honorable 
and  law-abiding  citizens. 


MV    LIFE— ANT K-BF.LLUM  27 

In  New  York  I  worked  some  at  my  trade. 
r»ut  I  did  other  work  as  I  could  find  it.  On  the 
corner  of  Pack  Shp  and  Water  streets,  I  loaded 
trucks,  chopped  tea,  weighed  cotton,  and  I  also 
did  white-washing-  of  houses  (but  thank  God  I 
have  never  white-washed  evil  doers)  cleaned 
carpets  and  houses. 

In  1859  I  heard  for  the  first  time  a  minister 
of  the  A.  ]\I.  E.  Church,  the  Rev.  James  Morris 
Williams  and  the  Rev.  Geo.  A.  Rue,  having  also 
met  Bishops  Daniel  A.  Payne  and  W^illiam  Paul 
Ouinn.  I  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  making  my  life  a  means  of  serving- 
God  in  the  uplifting  of  my  people.  I  was  con- 
vinced even  then  that  it  does  not  follow  that 
because  our  skins  are  dark  and  that  we  are  iden- 
tified with  the  Negro  race  that  there  is  no  chance 
for  us  to  become  potent  factors  in  the  uplifting 
of  humanity  and  especially  my  own  people ;  that 
a  man  should  decide  to  do  right  and  go  ahead 
and  God  would  certainly  care  for  him  all  his 
days  and  give  him  the  reward  of  all  his  labors. 
It  is  a  great  thing  for  a  man  to  realize  the  re- 
sponsibility of  true  manhood  and  let  others  learn 
this  from  his  example.  If  these  were  my  con- 
victions in  those  dark  days,  what  should  be  the 
feelings  of  young  n-ien  of  the  race  toda\-,  when 
the  darkness  of  slavery  has  been  changed  into 
the  light  of  libertv?     ^ 


OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 


Sometime  in  i860  ]\Ir.  Albert  Storm  requested 
ine  to  aid  him  in  getting  his  mother  from  the 
South.  She  was  a  slave.  ]\Iillie,  Sally,  Ann  and. 
John  Caraway  were  brought  from  the  South,  by 
the  permission  of  the  owner,  by  one  Dolly  Babb,. 
to  Brooklyn.  Dolly  said  to  my  mother,  "Now  I 
am  delivered  from  the  devil  out  of  hell.  I  am. 
bound  to  serve  my  Heavenly  Master  and  I  shall 
serve  Him  well.''  J.  R.  V.  Thomas,  William^ 
Isaacs,  Rev.  \\^illiam  Dixon,  Paul  Drayton, 
James  Anderson,  Dr.  Peter  W.  Ray,  Joe  Bowen,. 
Chas.  H.  Lansing,  William  Still,  Rev.  George 
^^^  Leveer  and  others,  were  a  few  of  the  men 
who  were  engaged  in  bringing  slaves  from  the 
South  and  giving  them  their  freedom.  Men  of 
grander  qualities,  morally,  socially  and  religious- 
ly, I  have  never  met. 

In  1859  I  ^^^5  married,  on  June  i6th,  to  Miss 
Olivia  A.  Plamilton,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Robert- 
Hamilton,  editor  of  an  Anglo-African  paper. 
Ada  A.  William  Alexander  and  3^Iary  Hamilton^ 
were  born  to  us. 


ALEXANDER  H.  NEWTON 

In  Military  Uniform 

Commissary  Sergeant  29th  Regiment 

Connecticut  Volunteers 


iiy  Bar  iSprorii  m\h 

^krtrli  of  tbf 
(Fiufittg-ntutlt  liiMjttttPnt 


I8u  War  IRrrorii  uub  ^kdrli  of  thr 
®mruti|  -  ututli  Uet^tmeut 


In  1 86 1  when  President  Lincoln  issued  a  call 
for  75,,CKX)  troops  I  engaged  myself  for  the  great 
Civil  War,  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.     I  went 
into  the  company  of  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  of 
Brooklyn.     I  went  to  the  front,  as  the  United 
States  was  not  taking  Negro  troops.     In   1862 
there  was  a  riot  in  New  York  City.    The  colored 
people    were    being    dreadfully    treated,    being 
stoned,  killed,  and  shown  how  despised  they  were 
even  in  the  North.    An  orphan  asylum  (colored) 
was  burned,  having  at  that  time  three  hundred 
children  in  it.    I  returned  to  Brooklyn  under  the 
command  of  General  B.  F.  Butler,  who  had  been 
ordered  to  put  down  the  riot.    While  engaged  in 
this  mission  I  got  into  the  very  midst  of  the  riot- 
ers.    Soon  they  were  after  me.     I  ran  through 
the  streets  of  New  York  like  a  wild  steer,  while 
the  rioters  cried  out,  "Head  the  Nigger  Off !"  At 
length,   I   reached  the   New   Haven  boat  which 
brought  us  safely  to  New  Haven,  Conn.     While 
there  I  engaged  at  my  trade  with  Mr.  W.  Clark. 
On  the  i8th  of  December,  1863,  I  enlisted  in  the 

ai 


82  OT'T  OF  THE  BRIARS 

Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  of  the  Connecticut  YcA- 
iinteers,  as  a  private.  On  ]\Iarch  8,  1864,  the 
regiment  broke  camp  and  left  Xew  Haven  for 
AnnapoHs,  ^Nld.,  with  Colonel  W.  B.  Wooster  in 
command.  On  the  next  Sabbath  after  we  reach- 
ed Annapolis,  I  attended  the  ^lethodist  Church 
and  listened  to  a  powerful  sermon  by  Rev.  I.  J. 
Hill,  he  being  an  orderly  to  Colonel  Wooster. 

While  in  the  camp  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  we 
employed  our  idle  time  in  discussing  the  great 
problems  that  confronted  the  country  at  that  time. 
Lieutenant  Seymour,  Uncle  Fred  ]Moore,  Horace 
Louden,  Rev.  L  J.  Hill  and  myself  were  the  par- 
ticipants in  these  discussions.  The  new  party,  the 
Republican,  was  then  formed,  the  prime  purpose 
of  which  was  the  freedom  of  the  slaves.  We 
wxre  most  frequently  surmising  and  prophesying 
as  to  what  would  be  the  final  outcome  and  the  ul- 
timate benefits  to  the  Xegro  race.  There  were 
vital  questions  at  stake  then.  The  spirit  of  pa- 
triotism and  the  desire  to  lift  oppression,  w^ere 
afire  in  every  breast  of  every  true  American.  It 
would  be  well  for  the  many  young  Afro-Ameri- 
cans of  today  to  remember  that  the  supreme  pur- 
pose of  the  Republican  party  when  it  was  organ- 
ized, was  not  only  to  prohibit  the  further  exteii- 
sion  of  slavery,  but  to  exterminate  it  as  a  system 
of  barter  and  traffic.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
Democratic  party  at  that  time  was  in  favor  of  the 


COL.  W*  R  WOOSTER 

Colonel  of  the  29  th  Regiment, 
Connecticut  Volunteers 


MY  WAlt  KECORD  ^8 

infernal  system  of  slavery,  and  in  our  day,  it  is 
in  sympathy  with  any  movement  that  looks  to 
keeping'  the  Xegro  race  in  some  kind  of  shackles. 
They  are  still  in  favor  of  keeping  the  A  fro- Amer- 
ican in  slavery  in  some  form.  And  they  are  suc- 
ceeding reasonably  well.  For  at  last,  we  are 
forced  to  conclude  that  no  man  is  really  free  un- 
less he  holds  in  his  bosom  the  right  of  franchise 
and  has  received  the  liberty  to  exercise  that  right. 
Have  the  ten  millions  of  A  fro- Americans  in  the 
United  States  that  right  to-day?  The  answer 
comes  from  many  States,  XO  ! 

Inspired  with  the  thought  of  Shakespeare,  who 
said,  "He  who  would  be  free,  let  him  first  strike 
the  blow  himself,"  my  bosom  burned  with  the  fire 
of  patriotism  for  the  salvation  of  my  country  and 
the  freedom  of  my  people.  I  was  rejoiced  when 
the  Hon.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected  President 
of  these  United  States,  and  when  it  was  my  for- 
tune to  see  him  emancipate  the  millions  of  mem- 
bers of  the  downtrodden  race.  I  shall  never  for- 
get when  I  saw  him  riding  through  the  streets  of 
New  York,  with  throngs  of  humanity  on  either 
side  of  him.  He  was  on  his  way  then  to  the  in- 
auguration at  \\^ashington,  D.  C,  to  assume  con- 
trol of  the  terror-stricken  country  and  to  take  the 
reigns  of  government  in  his  own  hands.  While 
it  became  necessary  that  blood  should  flow  freely^ 
I  was  reminded,  that  no  sin  is  ever  wiped  out 


34  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 


without  the  spilling  of  blood.  This  seems  to  be 
a  decree  of  High  Heaven,  even  among  the  affairs 
of  men.  And  God  has  made  no  exception  to  this 
•decree,  in  the  salvation  of  men  from  their  person- 
al sins.  I  was  indeed  willing  to  unite  with  the 
party,  the  Republican  party  and  the  abolition 
movement  for  their  high  and  holy  purposes,  and 
to  be  associated  with  such  men  as  Rev.  Henry 
Ward  Beecher,  Rev.  Henry  Highland  Garnett, 
Theodore  Tilton.  Lewis  Tapen,  William  Still,  ot 
Philadelphia;  Charles  Sumner,  Thaddeus  Stev- 
ens and  many  other  such  men,  whose  platform 
was  justice  and  right  and  freedom  extended  to 
all  without  regard  to  color  or  previous  condition 
of  servitude,  and  to  enforce  these  rights  and 
privileges  even  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

At  New  Haven  we  had  been  promised  $15 
bounty  on  our  enlistment,  but  this  had  not  been 
allowed,  no  effort,  it  seems  had  been  made  to  pay 
us  this  money,  but  we  did  not  shirk  our  duty  be- 
cause we  had  not  received  our  just  dues.  We 
had  long  been  accustomed  to  such  impositions ; 
but  we  said  that  we  would  honor  Old  Glory,  obey 
God,  and  contend  for  our  prize.  Liberty,  and  will 
contend  in  this  conflict  until  the  sound  of  clank- 
ing slave  chains  shall  be  heard  no  more  in  the 
length  and  breadth  of  this  fair  and  goodly  land, 
When  kings,  princes  and  nobles  shall  have  been 
swept  into  merited  oblivion  and  the  Civil  War 


MY  WAR  RECORD  ^^5 


forgotten,  posterity  will  catch  the  glowing  theme 
of  Liberty  and  enroll  with  rapture  the  names  of 
thQse  heroes  who  bought  this  boon  w^ith  blood  on 
the  battlefield. 

The  regiment  paraded  the  streets  while  multi- 
tudes looked  with  wonder,  some  laughing,  others 
cheering,  mothers  with  their  babies  in  their  arms, 
crying  and  holding  on  to  their  husbands,  as  they 
marched  away  to  do  battle  for  the  noblest  of 
causes.  It  was  a  scene  never  to  be  forgotten.  We 
marched  from  Chapel  street,  where  we  embarked 
on  a  Government  transport.  As  I  went  on  board 
the  vessel,  mother,  father,  wife  and  children, 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  of  my  friends,  both  white 
and  black,  were  bidding  me  goodbye  and  express- 
ing the  hope  that  I  might  have  a  safe  return.  I 
cannot  express  the  sobbing  emotions  of  my  heart, 
when  I  ungrasped  the  hands  of  these  loved  ones 
and  friends  and  turned  my  face  away  from  them, 
knowing  that  I  might  be  going  to  my  death  and 
never  again  see  them  in  this  world. 

When  we  reached  Annapolis,  ^Id.,  we  were  en- 
camped three  miles  out  of  town.  Here  for  the 
first  time  we  put  up  our  tents.  It  was  cold  and 
damp.  We  dug  holes  about  two  feet  wide  extend- 
ing from  within  outside  the  tent,  and  placed  sheet 
iron  over  these  and  in  these  small  trenches  start- 
ed our  fires.  In  this  way  we  were  able  to  have 
heat  within  and  force  the  smoke  outside. 


36  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

The  colored  people  in  this  place  were  afraid  to 
speak  to  us.  Their  masters  looked  on  us  with 
contempt.  On  Sunday  a  reverend  gentleman 
came  into  the  camp  to  preach  to  us  and  we  lis- 
tened to  a  very  interesting  sermon.  After  re- 
maining here  for  eight  or  ten  days,  we  received 
orders  to  strike  tents.  \\'e  left  for  Hilton  Head, 
S.  C.  arriving  at  this  place  April  i6,  1864.  We 
marched  through  the  main  street  and  went  into 
camp  with  the  Twenty-sixth,  of  New  York.  On 
]\Iay  2^  the  paymaster  arrived  at  Beaufort,  S.  C, 
where  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  was  at  this 
time  stationed,  and  our  spirits  were  greatly  lifted 
up  when  we  saw  him,  for  as  yet  we  had  received 
no  pay  for  our  services.  But  when  we  were  told 
bv  him  that  we  could  receive  only  $7  per  month 
each,  for  our  services  our  spirits  fell.  So  I,  to- 
gether with  the  rest  of  my  comrades,  was  really 
disgusted  with  this  failure  on  the  part  of  the  Gov- 
ernment to  give  us  a  decent  compensation  for  our 
work  as  soldiers.  The  officers  advised  us  to  take 
it  and  assured  us  that  at  the  next  payment  we 
should  receive  our  full  compensation.  We  decid- 
ed to  follow  their  advice.  A\'e  quieted  our  pas- 
sions and  went  to  work  like  good  soldiers.  My 
great  desire  was  to  get  into  contact  with  the 
Southern  forces  that  we  might  be  working  out 
the  decision  of  this  great  problem.  I  had  no  ill 
feeling  for  the  Southern  white  people,  some  of 


MY  WAK  KEOORD  37 

them  had  been  my  best  friends;  but  this  was  not 
a  personal  matter,  but  a  question  of  national  is- 
sue, involving  the  welfare  of  millions,  and  my 
soul  was  on  fire  for  the  question,  Slavery  or  No 
Slavery,  to  be  forever  settled  and  that  too  as  soon 
as  possible. 

While  the  troops  were  at  Bermuda  Hundred 
having  disembarked  from  the  transport  Alabama, 
I  recalled  an  incident.  When  my  father  and 
mother  were  sitting  at  the  table  of  my  father's 
owner.  Master  Park  Custis,  a  son' of  ^Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Custis,  saw  a  piece  of  pie  on  the  table  and 
started  to  help  himself,  without  any  formalities, 
my  mother  objected  to  his  uncouthness,  caught 
hold  of  him  and  would  have  handled  him  quite 
roughly,  but  my  father  caught  hold  of  her  and 
held  her  until  the  youngster  got  away  with  his 
prize.  He  was  very  insolent  and  insulting.  It 
'all  came  over  me  and  I  thought  how  I  would  like 
to  find  him  at  that  time  and  administer  the  very 
flogging  which  my  dear  mother  started  to  give 
him.  I  was  indeed  in  a  proper  mood  to  have  done 
it,  if  I  had  came  across  him.  This  is  but  a  little 
illustration  of  hundreds  of  incidents  that  came 
into  my  mind  when  the  army  was  in  the  South, 
and  as  I  felt  then,  that  I  was  duly  protected,  I 
confess  that  I  had  a  burning  desire  to  eke  out 
some  vengeance  which  for  years  had  been  ])ent 
up  in  my  nature.     But,  of  course,  from  the  Chris- 


38  OUT  OF  THE   BRIAKS 

tian  standpoint,  this  was  all  wrong.  I  was  all 
wrong.  I  was  then  on  a  much  higher  mission 
than  trying  to  get  personal  vengeance  on  those 
who  had  mistreated  me  and  mine,  1  was  fighting 
for  the  liberty  of  my  people  and  the  righting  of 
many  wrongs  that  belonged  to  their  social  and  re- 
ligious welfare.  While  I  had  not  learned  much 
of  the  laws  of  commerce  and  politics,  I  knew  .only 
a  little  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  which  I  had  pick- 
ed up  here  and  there,  by  an  attentive  mind,  in 
mixing  with  the  educated  people  of  the  South ;  I 
knew  nothing  of  military  science,  but  I  had  been 
^  watching  the  Southerners  drill  for  several  years 
seemingly  getting  ready  for  some  unexpected 
conflict ;  but  I  did  know  that  the  time  was  fast  ap- 
proaching when  a  great  problem  would  have  to 
be  settled  by  bloodshed,  when  I  would  be  called 
on  to  make  my  life  a  personal  sacrifice  on  the  al- 
tar of  my  country  and  for  the  sake  of  my  people. 
I  knew  that  slavery  and  its  inhuman  machinery 
must  be  put  out  of  existence  and  that  the  simple 
principles  of  liberty  of  thought  and  action  in  poli- 
tics, society  and  religion  must  prevail.  And,  at 
this  time,  I  was  in  the  full  realization  of  what  it 
meant  to  be  again  in  the  South,  not  a  cringing 
black  man,  but  a  proud  American  soldier  with 
the  Union  and  Old  Glory  behind,  before,  over 
and  under  me.  I  had  heard,  in  the  fifties,  from 
the  Southerners,  that  there  would  be  a  war  and 


MY   WAR  RECOHl)  39 


that  if  anv  of  the  colored  people  aided  the  North 
in  it.  they  would  catch  them  and  cut  out  their 
tongues    and    make   -them    drink    their    mothers' 
blood.     \\'ell.  at  this  time,  I  was  in  the  South  to 
have  my  tongue  cut  out  and  to  drink  my  mother's 
blood  if  it  had  been  necessary.    But  thank  God,  I 
helped  to  save  my  own  tongue  and  my  mother's 
blood  and  my  race  !    This  is  enougli  glory  for  me ! 
All  the  soldiers  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment, 
although  dark-skinned,  felt  the  full  responsibility 
of  their  mission.     They  were  in  the  South  to  do. 
to  dare,  and  to  die.   And  while  they  had  not  been 
trained  in  military  tactics  at  West  Point  and  were 
backward  in  their  movements,  they  had  been  to 
the  armory  of  God  and  had  received  weapons  of 
the  heart,  that  made  them  daring  and  dangerous 
foes — men  to  be  really  reckoned  with.    And  I  am 
proud  to  say,  that  the  history  of  the  colored  man 
in  warfare  has  been  an  enviable  one.     He  has  al- 
wavs  showed  his  patriotism  by'  action,  by  deeds 
of  sacrifice,  by  death  itself.     We  had  the  same 
muscle,  the  same  strength,  the  same  heart,  the 
same  conscience,  the  same  cause,  the  same  right, 
the   same  liberty  as   the  white  man.     \\'e  were 
fighting  under  the  same  flag  and  the  same  God. 
I  remember  the  words  of  General  Saxon,  '*Boys, 
if  vou  want  to  make  good  soldiers  you  must  look 
a  white  man  straight  in  the  face  and  let  him  know 
that  you  are  a  man."  This  gave  us  fresh  courage 
to  press  forward  as  soldiers  to  a  certain  victory. 


40  (»UT  OF  THE   llHTAPvS 


On  the  14th  of  August,  1864,  a  time  long  to  be 
remembered  with  us,  an  oppressively  hot  clay,  we 
marched  into  A^irginia.  We  were  worn  out, 
weary,  thirsty,  hungry,  and  completely  exhaust- 
ed. We  were  compelled  to  carry  our  blankets, 
knapsack,  musket,  and  sixty  pounds  of  cartridges. 
About  4  P.  ]\I.  we  reached  the  headquarters  of 
General  Birney/in  the  woods  and  encamped.  I 
was  so  overcome  with  the  heat  that  I  fell  to  the 
ground  and  was  soon  asleep.  We  had  no  feather 
beds  to  lie  upon,  only  the  bare  ground — but  this 
bed  always  supplied  by  Mother  Earth,  was  de- 
lightful this  time  for  rest.  Wt  had  for  our  din- 
ner, breakfast  and  supper,  half-done  salt  pork, 
which  was  placed  on  a  stick  and  held  over  a  blaze 
to  warm  it :  hard  tack,  on  which  one  could  hardly 
make  an  impression  with  the  teeth,  and  some- 
times coffee,  if  it  could  be  gotten.  These  were 
some  of  the  hardships  of  the  soldier  and  these 
were  enough ;  but  when  you  add  to  these  the 
mental  condition  of  many,  such  as  myself,  almost 
afraid  of  my  own  shadow,  ready  to  shoot  at  any- 
thing that  made  a  threatening  noise, — I  remem- 
ber that  I  shot  at  the  limb  of  a  tree  floating  down 
the  river,  thinking  that  it  was  a  rebel  skiff"  with 
spies — it  was  a  sore  and  trying  ordeal.  Every  sol- 
dier was  in  constant  expectation  of  surprises  from 
the  Johnnies,  or  rebels.  Lee's  and  Johnson's  army 
was  near  Buzzard's  Roost,  in  face  of  a  rockv- 


MV  WAK   RECOIU)  41 

faced  ridge,  to  pass  him  meant  suffering  and 
death.  We  were  surrounded  by  Dutch  Gap 
Canal,  James  River,  over  which  we  had  to  cross 
on  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  Fort  Hell  to  be  captur- 
ed and  taken.  But  knowing  that  Generals  Weit- 
zel,  Sherman,  Doubleday  and  Butler  had  35,200 
men  under  them,  we  went  bravely  forward,  de- 
termined that  Old  Glory  shoiild  not  trail  in  the 
dust. 

We  crossed  the  pontoon  bridge  near  Deep  Bot- 
tom and  marching  about  two  miles,  halted  in  a 
corn  field.  Here  we  rested,  but  in  momentary 
readiness  for  a  call  to  action  as  the  rebels  w^ere 
very  near  us.  We  were  soon  aroused  and  called 
to  the  fort  at  ^Malvern  Hill.  Here  we  entered  into 
an  engagement  with  the  rebels  and  many  were 
wounded,  killed  and  taken  prisoners.  I  had  a 
very  narrow  escape  and  thought  several  times 
that  ''my  time''  had  come.  I  remember  a  twenty- 
pound  cannon  ball  coming  towards  me,  I  could 
see  it  distinctly  through  the  smoke.  It  looked 
like  it  had  been  sent  especially  for  me.  I  said 
quickly,  "Lord,  you  promised  that  a  thousand 
should  fall  at  my  side,  but  that  it  should  not  come 
nigh  me."  It  was  quick  praying,  quick  thinking, 
quick  coming;  but  when  the  ball  was  within  about 
three  feet  of  me  it  struck  the  ground  and  bound- 
ed over  my  head.  So  I  was  saved.  God's  prom- 
ise was  fulfilled  in  my  case. 

4 


42  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

On  the  i6th  we  joined  the  Third  Division, 
Tenth  Army  Corps,  General  Birney's  Brigade, 
composed  of  the  Twenty-second,  Seventh,  Eighth, 
Ninth  and  Twenty-ninth,  United  States  Cavalry 
Troops,  numbering  5000  men.  We  took  up  our 
march  for  Jones'  Landing,  recrossed  the  pontoon 
bridge  under  very  disagreeable  circumstances, 
rain,  mud  and  slush,  but  we  were  thankful  and 
cheerful:  glad  that  we  had  not  been  killed,  or 
wounded  or  taken  prisoners,  in  the  encounter 
just  passed  through.  Again  we  camped  in  an 
open  field  and  raised  our  tents,  prepared  our  ba- 
con and  coffee  and  hard  tack.  We  were  soon 
ready  to  take  a  good  night's  sleep.  I  remember- 
ed my  loved  ones  and  wondered  how  they  were 
faring  and  my  privations,  but  I  found  myself 
willing  to  undergo  all  this  for  the  cause  of  liberty. 

On  the  17th  we  arose  early  and  received  word 
to  advance.  In  a  short  time  we  were  in  a  fierce 
battle.  Our  lieutenant  colonel  was  wounded  in 
the  engagement.  Again,  I  thought  that  my  time 
had  come.  By  some  awkward  movement,  I  was 
thrown  into  the  line  of  the  enemy.  The  Johnnies 
were  very  much  excited  and  did  their  best  to  cap- 
lure  me,  but  I  succeeded  in  getting  back  into  the 
Union  lines.  I  knew  then  that  the  prayers  of  my 
•good  old  mother  were  being  heard ;  for  surely  the 
Lord  delivered  me  from  the  snare  of  the  fowler 
and  from  the  noisome  pestilence.    Our  lieutenant 


REV.  L  J.  HILL 

Orderly  29th  Regimentt  Connecticut  Volunteers 


MY   WAli   KKCOUD  48 


colonel  had  his  horse  shot  from  under  him  and 
Orderly  I.  J.  Hill  was  wounded. 

I  prayed  in  this  battle  whenever  I  had  oppor- 
tunity to  look  towards  Heaven,  for  grape  and 
canister  and  bullets  of  all  shapes  and  sizes  were 
failing  thick  and  fast  about  me.  We  were  in 
close  quarters  with  the  enemy  and  our  ranks  were 
being  thinned  by  reason  of  the  wounded  and  dead 
lying  on  the  battlefield.  Although  I  came  out  of 
this  battle  pretty  well  shaken  up,  excepting  for  a 
few  scratches,  my  life  was  on  the  altar  for  my 
country  and  my  people,  and  I  was  not  especially 
concerned  as  to  the  outcome  regarding  my  own 
life ;  but  I  was  determined  to  do  all  that  I  could 
to  bring  our  cause  to  a  victorious  end.  The 
Union  forces  moved  back  and  remained  all  day 
about  twelve  miles  from  Richmond. 

On  the  i8th,  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  of 
which  I  was  commissary  sergeant,  and  the  Third 
Division,  moved  down  the  valley,  halting  in  the 
open  fields  for  two  hours.  We  were  opposite  the 
pontoon  bridge  which  crossed  the  Chick ahom- 
iny,  and  remained  until  the  bridge  was  put  in  re- 
pair. ^^'hile  here  I  gave  out  hard  tack  and  pork 
to  the  soldiers  as  best  I  could.  For  myself,  I 
built  a  little  fire  and  roasted  a  bit  of  pork  over  the 
fire,  which  together  with  water  from  the  river, 
formed  my  meal.  On  the  20th  we  marched  for 
the  forts  on  the  right  of  Point  Rock  Hospital, 


44  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

near  Petersburg.  On  the  21st  we  were  almost 
flanked  by  the  rebels  and  retreated  to  ]\Ialvern 
Hill  and  repaired  the  breastworks.  Here  we  had 
another  skirmish.  Some  lost  their  lives  and  oth- 
ers were  wounded,  but  we  were  successful  in 
capturing  seventy-five  prisoners. 

On  the  23d  we  crossed  the  James  River  on  the 
pontoon  bridge,  passing  the  heights  where  the 
Xew  Jersey  Battery  was  stationed.  They  greet- 
ed us  with  shouts  and  "Hurrah  boys !  we  are  here 
to  stay !"  Such  a  round  of  cheers  you  never 
heard.  You  would  not  have  thought  that  they 
were  on  their  way  to  battle,  and  some  to  death 
and  the  Judgment  Throne.  Uncle  Freddie  Aloore 
and  Orderly  I.  J.  Hill  were  the  only  preachers 
we  had  with  us,  excepting  the  chaplain.  They 
used  to  say  to  us,  "boys  get  ready,  for  if  there 
ever  were  a  time  when  you  should  be  ready,  it 
is  now ;  for  you  do  not  know  when  you  may  be 
called  to  go,  you  are  continually  in  death's  jaws.'' 

We  were  soon  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Ya., 
looking  upon  the  doomed  city.  We  were  greeted 
by  a  shell  from  the  rebels,  or  Grey  Backs,  as  we 
sometimes  called  them.  It  fell  near  the  colonel, 
who  was  sitting  on  his  horse  at  the  right  of  the 
brigade.  We  countermarched  and  fell  back  to 
the  woods,  where  we  remained  until  5  o'clock, 
when  orders  were  received  from  the  general  to 
fall   back   to   the    fort   and   protect   the   pontoon 


MY  WAR  RECORD  45 

bridge.  On  our  way  we  met  a  lot  of  trooper^ 
making  their  way  to  the  front,  who  wanted  to 
know  our  reason  for  returning.  We  toUl 
them  that  the  rebels  were  after  us.  It  was 
very  amusing  to  see  them  falling  into  line. 
Some  of  them  could  march  faster  than  we. 
We  reached  the  fort,  but  when  we  found 
that  the  Johnnies  were  not  coming  after  us,  \ye 
became  anxious  to  see  them  and  meet  the  issue. 
We  found  quite  a  number  of  our  associates  from 
New  Haven  and  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  Wood- 
bury, N.  J.  Wq  were  all  delighted  that  our  lives 
had  been  spared  to  see  each  other  again  in  the 
flesh  and  chatted  freely  about  our  friends  at 
home,  our  wives,  mothers  and  children.  I  had 
often  heard  of  the  horrors  of  war,  but  now  I  be- 
gan to  experience  what  it  meant,  in  the  joy  of 
meeting  friends  whom  I  never  expected  to  see 
again  on  the  earth,  or  at  least  some  of  them. 
There  was  a  sense  in  which  I  had  a  new  under- 
standing of  that  marvelous  passage  of  Scripture- 
regarding  death,  "Oh  death,  where  is  thy  sting: 
Oh,  grave,  where  is  thy  victory."  We  had  not 
yet  felt  the  sting  of  death  and  we  had  not  experi- 
enced the  victor}^  of  the  grave,  yet  we  had  been 
in  the  very  midst  of  both.  ,,•,./ 

Once. again  we  marched  in  front  of  the  horrible 
pit,  Petersburg.  Some  of  the  whites  said,  see 
they    are   taking   those   colored    soldiers   to  .the 


Ad  OUT  OF  THE  BKIARS 

slaughter  pen.  Truly,  they  had  said  so,  for  I 
never  saw  such  a  scene  the  first  night.  Shot  and 
«hell  were  raining  fast  around  us.  Henry  Migs, 
a  native  of  Africa,  was  killed.  He  died  as  a  sol- 
dier, true  to  his  adopted  country,  but  a  stranger 
-to  God.  I  thought  that  every  bullet  was  sent  for 
Tne  and  was  doing  some  real  praying.  We  do 
not  know  what  prayer  is,  until  we  are  reduced  to 
our  extremity.  Then  we  realize  with  a  new  ex- 
perience, that  our  extremity  is  God's  opportun- 
ity. I  told  the  Lord  that  He  had  promised  to 
■"'Rescue  the  perishing  and  care  for  the  dying/' 
and  that  I  wanted  Him  to  keep  the  promise  of 
that  song,  so  far  as  I  was  concerned.  Well, 
praise  His  name,  He  did  so.  Thank  God  to-day 
that  I  am  still  living  and  permitted  to  write  this 
bit  of  fearful  experience,  so  others  may  know 
what  it  is  to  trust  in  God. 

On  the  24th,  Private  Sam  Bertim,  of  Company 
E,  was  killed,  having  been  shot  through  the  head. 
Private  George  Porter  was  also  killed.  Colonel 
Wooster  was  taken  sick  and  was  carried  from  the 
rifle  pits  to  the  rear.  The  rebels  captured  one  of 
our  officers,  while  changing  those  on  picket  duty. 
Two  men  from  the  Twenty-ninth  were  slaughter- 
ed, they  were  members  of  Company  A.  The  col- 
ored troops  did  some  good  fighting  in  this  en- 
gagement. We  were  told  by  the  enemy  that  if 
we  were  captured  our  tongues  would  be  cut  out. 


MY  WAU  RECORD 


or  we  would  be  starved  to  death ;  that  there  would 
be  no  exchange  of  prisoners  in  our  case.  So  this 
was  a  rather  fearful  inspiration,  but  it  served  its 
purpose,  of  causing  us  to  fight  to  the  best  of  our 
abilitv ;  for  we  really  feared  that  in  case  we  were 
captured  that  such  barbarities  might  be  adminis- 
tered to  us. 

On  the  1st  of  September  we  were  ordered  to 
strike  tents  and  to  move  on,  we  knew  not  whither 
we  were  going.  We  did  not  care  either,  for  now 
we  were  thoroughly  enthused  with  the  issues  of 
war.  We  had  tasted  of  the  dangers  of  battle,  and 
this  taste  brought  out  the  desire  that  we  should 
fio-ht  to  the  finish.  Some  of  our  dear  friends  had 
laid  down  their  lives  already,  and  we  reasoned 
that  if  it  should  be  necessary  for  them  to  give 
such  a  sacrifice,  that  we  were  no  better  than  they. 
So  in  our  judgment,  we  were  becoming  calm,  and 
in  our  determination,  we  were  becoming  more 
and  more  fixed. 

With  President  Lincoln  and  our  great  generals 
and  loyal  soldiers,  we  felt  that  the  issue  was  as- 
sured. Of  course  we  did  not  forget  the  divine 
side  of  the  question,  that  God  was  on  His  throne 
^nd  that  right  and  justice  and  mercy  would  at 
last  prevail.  While  it  had  alw^ays  been  said  tliat 
this  was  a  white  man's  country,  we  were  deter- 
ttiined  that  the  black  man  should  share  in  this 
honor  of  ownership.    And  the  best  way  that  this 


48  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

ownership  could  be  established  was  through  the 
loyalty  of  the  black  man  on  the  battlefield.  For 
surely  it  will  be  conceded  that  when  a  man  has 
bought  his  adopted  country  by  his  blood,  it  is  his. 
own.  While,  as  a  race,  the  Xegro  race,  this  is  our 
adopted  land,  yet  as  individuals,  it  is  our  native 
land,  our  fatherland. 

The  colored  troops  numbered  at  this  time  about 
75,000.  The  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  which  was 
my  own,  formed  the  center.  We  were  in  line  of 
march  toward  the  city  but  were  turned  in  our 
course  and  crossed  the  pontoon  bridge,  wliich 
landed  us  near  the  city  of  Petersburg.  Wheii 
daylight  came  we  were  on  the  Old  ^Market  Road 
and  headed  for  Richmond,  \^a.  We  were  very 
much  exhausted  and  were  hoping  for  a  rest,  when 
we  heard  the  music  of  the  bugle,  which  told  us 
that  our  rest  had  come. 

At  this  time  it  was  dangerous  for  live  things  to 
get  in  our  way,  we  were  hungry  for  something 
besides  hard  tack,  bad  coffee  and  salt  pork.  We 
wanted  fresh  meat  and  plenty  of  it.  So  it  was  a 
bad  time  for  chickens  and  terrapin,  for  when  we 
could  find  these  living  edibles,  we  generally  ap- 
propriated them  without  any  thought  of  the 
criminality  of  the  act  or  of  the  danger  of  being 
detected  or  arrested.  Our  hunger  gave  us  license 
to  satisfy  it  in  the  quickest  and  best  way  avail- 
able. 


MY  WAR  RECORD  49 


On  the  2d  of  September  we  were  once  again  in 
front  of  the  enemy  and  ready  to  do  battle.     We 
entered    the    engagement    with    enthusiasm    and 
rapidly  drove  the  enemy  before  us.    We  were  as- 
sisted by  a  large   Mogul,  which   we  called  the 
Petersburgh  Express  and  one  or  two  gunboats  on 
the  James  River,  which  fired  balls  half  as  big  as 
a  common  sized  water  bucket.     Soon  victory  was 
perched,  on  our  banners  and  with  flying  colors, 
we  advanced  by  a  right  flank  and  entered  the  reb- 
el lines  after  a  bad  fought  battle  of  six  hours, 
leaving  many  dead  and  wounded  on  the   battle- 
field. My  brother,  William  Henry  Newton,  was  in 
the  same  regiment  with  me,  not  as  a  soldier  but 
as  a  valet,  he  attended  Captain  Griswold.     We 
charged  two  of  the  rebel  forts,  the  left  of  the 
line  was  charged  by  the  Eighth  United   States 
Troops,  supported  by  the  Twenty-ninth;  the  cen- 
ter was  charged  by  the  Ninth  Maryland,  support- 
ed by  the  Seventh  United  States  Troops.     In  the " 
history  of  my  war  record,  I  shall  never  forget  this 
day's   experience.     The  rebels   fought  hard  and 
nobly,  but  the  colored  troops  defeated  them  and 
eained   another   victorv   in    favor  of   the  Union 
army.     Our  loss  was  very  heavy  and  the  true 
story  of  the  suffering  and  heartaches  will  never 
be  known  until  the  Judgment  Day. 

Captain    Thorpe    and    Lieutenant    ^IcDonald 
were  wounded.     I  came  on  my  rounds,  bringing 


m  OUT  OP^  THK  BRIARS 

refreshments  and  stopped  where  the  surgeons 
were  at  work.  I  shall  never  forget  the  fearful 
sight  that  met  my  eyes.  It  was  indeed  sickening. 
There  were  arms  and  legs  piled  up  like  hogs'  feet 
in  a  butcher  shop.  The  dead  and  the  dying  were 
strewn  over  the  battlefield  for  five  miles.  Drum 
Major  John  D.  Cowes,  of  New  Haven,  with  his 
corps,  were  busy  carrying  the  wounded  off  the 
battlefield.  I  said  to  myself,  war  is  a  terrible  way 
to  adjust  differences^  when  it  might  be  done  by 
the  implements  of  peace.  But  I  remembered  that 
it  is  much  easier  to  wield  the  sword  than  to  use 
the  pen;  much  easier  to  give  a  command  whicii 
will  send  hundreds  to  their  death,  than  to  be  a 
master  of  assemblies  and  speak  the  word  which 
gives  peace  and  happiness  to  millions.  We  lay 
all  night  in  front  of  the  rebel  works  and  in  the 
morning  we  were  warmly  saluted  by  fierce  bom- 
barding. So  we  were  again  in  the  midst  of  bat- 
tle which  waged  hotly.  The  enemy  carried  their 
dead  and  wounded  out  of  their  trenches  as  lively 
as  they  were  able.  They  did  this  so  as  to  keep 
from  tramping  on  them  and  to  have  room  for  the 
soldiers  who  were  doing  the  work  of  death.  In 
this  engagement  several  were  wounded  but  not 
many  killed.  Our  colonel  was  not  able  to  do  duty 
and  our  lieutenant  colonel  was  sick  at  Fortress 
^fonroe. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  we  advanced  to  the 


MY   WAR  KKCOKl) 


left  of  the  line,  planting  our  flag  under  the  rebel 
fire  of  grape  and  canister,  bombshell  and  mus- 
ketry.    The  dead  were  lying  in  every  direction 
and  the  wounded  were  falling  everywhere,  cared 
for  by  the  rear  guard.     On  the  5th  and  6th,  we 
had  to  endure  the  hardships  and  exposure  of  the 
rifle  pits,  with  advance  pickets  stationed  in  front 
of  the  rebel  garrison.     It  was  the  fighting  of  a 
duel,  so  to  speak,  between  two  armies,  although 
quite  a  distance  apart.    After  while  the  Twenty- 
Ninth  was  ordered  to  headquarters,  but  did  not 
get  far  on  its  way,  when  a  fire  broke  out  in  our 
midst,  we  were  shifted  into  a  double-quick  and 
returned  to  the  breastworks  where  we  held  our 
position  until  the  8th,  when  we  moved  on  the 
right    to    support    the    Forty-fifth,    on    Lookout 
Mountain.     We  were  worn  out  and  had  hoped 
that  we  would  be  allowed  to  rest ;  but  we  receiv- 
ed orders  to  take  position  on  the  front  to  support 
the  Eighth  United  States  Cavalry  Troops,  who 
had  charge  of  the  breastworks'.    Six  days  of  hard 
fighting,  fatigue  and  exposure,  was  our  experi- 
ence   here.     Under    orders    of    the    general    we 
scouted  and  explored  the  territory  and  drove  the 
enemy  from  the  woods.     We  were  able  to  take 
charge  of  the  situation,  much  to  our  pride;  still 
holding  the  rebels  at  bay  and  driving  them  fur- 
ther, to  hunt  new  quarters. 


OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 


On  the  14th  we  abandoned  the  breastworks, 
General  Bimey  leading  the  Third  Division,  Tenth 
Army  Corps,  numbering  75.000  colored  troops. 
We  were  not  formed  into  a  fighting  position  at 
this  time,  perhaps  for  the  reason  that  the  enemy 
were  too  strong  for  us.  So  we  were  brought  to 
the  rear  of  the  breastworks.  For  a  long  while 
the  rain  had  been  pouring  in  torrents  and  there 
was  not  a  dry  place  to  be  found  nor  a  dry  thread 
on  our  bodies,  we  were  covered  with  dirt  and 
mud  from  head  to  foot,  and  not  only  felt  to  be 
in  a  terrible  plight,  but  must  have  looked  worse. 
The  troops  were  ordered  to  prepare  two  days' 
rations  and  to  get  ready  for  light  marching.  I 
had  opportunity  now  to  be  in  the  company  of 
commissioned  officers  for  a  few  hours  at  a  time, 
when  we  halted  for  rest.  \\^e  would  spread  our 
meals  on  the.  wet  ground,  not  a  very  inviting 
table,  but  the  best  that  we  could  find.  I  somehow 
had  the  feeling  that  something  was  going  on,  or 
was  going  to  happen,  that  would  require  one  to 
be  wise  and  cunning.  The  officers  had  a  queer 
expression  on  their  faces,  and  in  fact  all  the  field 
officers  seemed  to  be  uneasy.  Three  o'clock  one 
morning,  my  surmises  were  justified,  for  the  long 
roll  was  sounded  and  soon  we  were  in  line  for 


MV   WAK  KECOllD  53 


work.     We  engaged  in  a  bloody  struggle.     We 
moved  to  the  right  and  some  one  began  to  sing, 
"Sure,  I  must  tight  if  I  would  win, 

Increase  my  courage  Lord ; 
I'll  bear  the  toil,  endure  the  pain. 
Supported  by  Thy  Word." 

We  thus  cheered  ourselves  by  the  singing  of 
rsongs   while  we  fought  and  while  we  marched 
Shroug-h  the  Virginia  mud,  such  songs  as  "Tramp, 
Tramp,  the  Boys  are  ^Marching,"  ''Beneath  the 
Starry-  Flag."    The  rebel  lines  were  fortified,  but 
nnder  our  noble  leaders,  we  marched  on  to  cer- 
tain victory  and  the  old  Twenty-ninth  was  ready 
for  any  fray.    The  rising  sun  would  seem  to  say 
to  us,  after  he  had  broken  through  the  darkness 
and  the  clouds,  "Cheer  up  boys,  don't  be  despond- 
ent, but  vigilant,  strong,  courageous,  protecting 
the  flag,  the  country,  women  and  children,  rights 
and  liberty,  and  all  things  will  come  out  right." 
Thus  it  will  be  seen,  how  often  God  speaks  to  us 
through  nature,  how  often  we  are  cheered  and 
lielped  by  a  bright  day.     How  dependent  we  are 
ttpon  our  surroundings,  for  support.     I  do  not 
say  that  this  should  be  so,  for  a  soldier  should  be 
^rong,  regardless  of  such  things,  but  neverthe- 
less they  have  their  effect. 

We  were  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  front  and 
within  three  miles  of  Richmond,  where  our  white 
troops  wer^  repulsed.  The  colored  troops  were 
commanded  to  halt  and  line  up  for  action  in  front 
^f  the  woods.    Again  the  thought  came  to  me,  al- 


54  OUT  OP  THE   P. R TARS 


though  this  is  called  the  white  man's  country^ 
they  need  us  in  war  as  in  peace,  to  make  and  to 
keep  the  country.  And  why  is  not  this  fact  fully 
realized  by  the  white  people?  We  are  more  than 
ten  million  strong  and  are  ready  at  any  time  to 
lay  down  our  lives  for  the  nation  and  to  give  our 
lives  in  service,  in  times  of  peace,  in  all  lines  of 
activity.  This  we  are  doing.  The  progress- 
which  the  Xegro  race  has  made  since  the  war  is 
an  enviable  one.  Xo  people  or  race  would  be 
ashamed  of  it.  We  have  made  this  progress  as 
honest,  industrious  citizens.  We  have  shown  our 
manhood  in  both  times  of  war  and  peace,  and  our 
record  has  been  written.  Then  why  are  we  not 
accorded  the  place  that  we  have  rightly  merited? 
In  the  sentiment  of  the  white  people  there  lurks- 
a  deep-rooted  prejudice  against  us,  and  in  their 
course  of  action  discrimination  is  made  against 
the  Xegro.  We  do  not  understand  why  this 
should  be,  unless  there  is  a  feeling  on  the  part  of 
the  white  people,  that  there  is  danger  that  we 
should  become  too  prosperous  and  too  many — the 
feeling  which  the  ancient  Egyptians  had  against 
the  Hebrews — hence,  they  took  steps  to  check  the 
Hebrews.  These  may  be  the  steps  taken  by  the 
white  man  to  check  our  progress.  But  the  same 
God  who  overruled  the  destinies  of  the  Hebrew 
slaves  and  brought  them  to  their  Promised  Land, 
will  take  care  of  us  and,  we  too,  one  day,  shall 


MY  WAR  RECORD 


enter  our   Promised  Land,  of   equal   rights  and 

liberty. 

On  the  29th,  there  as  a  fierce  encounter.    The 
battle  was  indeed  a  slaughter  pen.     The  enemy 
fought  like  tigers.     The  battle  became  general 
along  the  entire  line.     Adjutant  Spaulding  was 
wounded;     Corporal  George  Burr,  Company  L; 
Corporal  Sidney,  of  Company  E,  and  many  oth- 
ers were  killed.     Private  George  E.  Peters,  Ser- 
eeant  Georg^e  Halstead,  James  Evans  and  many 
others  were  wounded.     I,  myself,  feared,  shook, 
and  thought  that  my  time  had  come.     I  was  full 
of  thoughts  of  my  loved  ones  at  home.     I  knew 
that  they  were  praying  that  I  should  be  dehvered 
from  the  jaws  of  death.     This  thought  cheered 
and  comforted  me;  and  yet  I  saw  friends  falling 
around  me,  whose  loved  ones  and  friends,  were 
also  praying  for  their  protection.     Their  prayers 
were  not  being  answered  and  why  ?    Why  should 
I  think  that  the  prayers  ofifered  for  me  were  more 
availing    than    those    offered    for    them?     Why 
should  I  have  any  special  reason  for  encourage- 
ment?   These  thoughts  come  to  one  when  he  is 
in  the  midst  of   circumstances   which   seems   to 
upset  many  of  our  principles  of  religious  faith.- 
They  come  to  us  not  only  in  war  but  in  work. 
They  must  Ije  reckoned  with.     The  only  answer 
that  I  could  find  as  to  why  the  prayers  offered 
for  me  were  availing  up  to  this  time,  was  that  my 


.5<;  OUT  OF  THE  BKIARS 

t-Hiie  had  not  come,  and  that  it  had  not  come  be- 
cause God  had  not  ordered  it,  and  God  had  not 
ordered  it  because  He  had  something  for  me  to 
do.  Of  course,  He  had  heard  the  prayers  which 
had  been  offered  for  me  and  they  entered  into  His 
decree  regarding  my  Hfe.  The  only  answer  we 
can  find  to  many  perplexing  questions  which 
come  in  life  is,  'Tt  is  God's  way,  His  will." 

I  was  very  busy  in  supplying  the  regiment  with 
food,  vinegar  and  water,  and  such  edibles  as  I 
could  get  together.  The  doctors  were  busy  saw- 
ing off  legs  and  arms,  and  binding  up  wounds, 
and  giving  medicines  to  the  wounded  and  sick. 
The  women  were  busy  in  preparing  bandages,  lint, 
and  doing  what  they  could  in  the  alleviation  of 
human  suff'ering.  God  bless  the  dear  women  who 
had  the  faith  and  the  courage  to  breast  the  trials 
and  hardships  of  soldier  life.  These  scenes  would 
have  made  your  heart  sore.  Dear  reader,  the 
wounded  and  dying  scattered  over  the  battlefield 
thick,  the  hurrying  to  and  fro  of  the  physicians 
and  the  nurses ;  the  prayers  and  groans  and  cries 
of  the  wounded,  the  explosion  of  bombs,  the 
wliizzing  of  bullets,  the  cracking  of  rifles ;  you 
would  have  thought  that  the  very  forces  of  hell 
had  been  let  loose.  And,  indeed,  it  was  a  hell,  the 
horrors  of  which  no  one  could  ever  forget. 

We  finally  retreated  under  the  cover  of  the 
cavalr}'.    The  colored  troops  were  the  first  to  en- 


MY  WAR   KECOKD  57 

ter  the  field  and  the  last  to  fall  back.  We  thereby 
demonstrated  to  our  PVesident,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, and  our  (jeneral,  U.  S.  Grant,  that  we  were 
among  their  best  supporters.  The  white  man  had 
no  record  to  make.  He  was  known  as  a  fighter 
for  centuries,  our  record  was  to  be  made  and  we 
were  making-  it.  The  flag  of  our  regiment  could 
be  seen  floating  among  the  pines.  We  were  glad 
that  Old  Glory  was  above  us  with  her  folds  pierc- 
ed with  many  bullet  holes.  We  returned  to  camp 
and  took  our  former  position  in  front  of  Rich- 
mond, where  we  remained  for  awhile. 

We  were  again  in  battle  array,  having  been 
marched  up  to  the  rifle  pits.  Our  field  officers 
being  absent,  we  were  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Camp,  of  Company  D,  our  own  colonel, 
W.  B.  Wooster,  was  at  home  on  sick  furlough. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  W.  L.  \\'ard.  who  had  been 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  was  in  charge 
of  the  Forty-first  L^nited  States  Cavalry.  Troop. 
The  lieutenant  colonel  said  to  us,  ''Boys,  we  must 
fight  to-day,  let  me  have  your  best.  Duty  de- 
mands it.  I  will  stand  by  you  until  the  last. 
Watch,  keep  in  line,  and  obey  orders."  He 
brought  us  up  double-quick  to  the  rifle  pits  and 
the  bugle  sounded  charge.  We  charged,  firing, 
yelling,  using  our  bayonets  and  our  arms  in  the 
most  cruel  manner,  hint  still  in  accordance  with 
the  tactics  of  warfare.     A\'e  were  there  to  kill  in 


5s  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

every  manner  possible.  A\'e  held  the  pits  for 
twenty-four  hours,  brought  the  rebels  to  their 
knees,  brought  down  their  flag  and  unfurled  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  to  the  breezes. 

This  was  a  disastrous  battle,  probably  the  most 
disastrous  I  had  ever  witnessed.  I  should  proba- 
bly make  exception  of  the  Fort  Pillow  Massacre, 
in  which  my  brother,  Steven  Xewton,  was  killed. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Fourteent)i,  Rhode  Isl- 
and Battery.  Charles  Beeman,  ,  Rev.  Amos  G. 
Beeman  and  Corporal  W.  \\'.  Wilkins  w^ere  with 
him  to  the  end  and  were  able  to  make  the  report 
of  his  death  to  me.  We  lost  in  this  battle  over 
one  hundred,  i.  e.,  I  am  counting  only  the  loss  of 
the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment.  This  regiment 
fought  most  bravely,  gaining  great  praise,  and  re- 
ceiving many  compliments  trom  the  officers  high 
up  in  rank,  \\lien  the  battle  was  over,  we  fell 
back  and  camped  in  front  of  Richmond.  While 
there  we  attended  the  funeral  of  Private  Charles 
Bently,  who  was  killed  early  in  the  engagement. 
He  died  a  champion  for  liberty  and  an  earnest 
Christian^  Jones  Spriggs  and  thirteen  others 
were  buried  at  this  time. 

^lany  of  the  veterans  went  out  on  foraging 
expeditions.  While  resting  we  w^ould  engage  in 
religious  and  patriotic  songs.  One  of  our  favor- 
ites was,  ^'Tenting  on  the  Old  Camp  Ground." 
About  this  time,  the  Third  Division,  Tenth  Army 


MY   WAR    IlKCOKD  r,i> 


Corps,  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  and  General  Bir- 
ney,  were  surprised  with  the  presentation  of  the 
United  States  national  colors,  which  greatly 
pleased  the  boys.  The  flag  was  presented  by  the 
Forty-tifth  United  States  Cavalry  Troop  to  our 
lieutenant  colonel,  in  a  most  pleasing  manner.  He 
spoke  of  the  great  bravery  of  the  soldiers  in  bat- 
tle. Colonel  Ward  replied  that  he  had  672  guns 
which  would  speak  whenever  occasion  demanded 
it.  He  also  said  that  his  boys  were  filled  with  as 
noble  sentiments  as  any  that  had  ever  filled  the 
breasts  of  boys  before  the  guns. 

While  on  dress  parade  we  received  the  sad  an- 
nouncement from  our  lieutenant  colonel  that  he 
would  leave  the  regiment,  as  he  had  been  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  colonel.  This  was  indeed 
sad  news  to  us.  He  had  been  with  us  in  many 
hard-fought  battles.  We  had  learned  to  love  him 
and  had  great  confidence  in  his  ability.  He  knew 
what  course  to  pursue  in  order  to  avert  many  of 
the  tricks  of  the  Johnnies,  not  only  being  well  up 
in  military  science,  but  well  acquainted  with  many 
little  games  that  are  often  played  in  war. 

We  remained  in  front  of  Richmond  five  days. 
\\'hile  there  we  were  quiet  and  enjoyed  the  much 
needed  sleep  that  we  had.  We  were  greatly  an- 
noyed here  as  well  as  in  other  places  with  what 
the  soldiers  called  greybacks,  not  the  rebels,  how- 
ever :  thev  were  genuine  creepers.     They  molest- 


63  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

ed  us  no  little.  Whenever  I  could  get  off  I  would 
go  to  the  creek  and  disrobe  myself  and  pick  them 
out  of  my  clothes,  then  wash  my  clothes  and  hang 
them  on  the  bushes  to  dry.  Then  I  w^ould  dress 
m3^self  and  feel  like  a  king,  because  once  ^  again 
1  was  clean  and  free  from  these  unearthly  ver- 
min. 

From  the  first  to  the  eighth  of  November, 
1864,  ^ve  were  at  iMalvern  Hill.  I  was  Commis- 
sary Sargeant  and  was  careful  to  keep  as  near  the 
regiment  as  possible  with  my  department.  Sar- 
geant Quartermaster  D.  L.  Lathrop  had  charge 
of  the  ammunition,  knapsacks,  etc.,  under  the 
command  of  our  regimental  quartermaster,  there 
was  always  detailed  a  guard  to  protect  us.  We 
always  followed  the  army  with  our  train.  I  re- 
member once  that  I  got  into  the  line  of  the  John- 
nies and  I  ran  as  if  the  hounds  of  hell  were  after 
me.  I  heard  the  whizzing  of  a  bullet  over  my 
head,  but  it  missed  me.  So  I  said^,  well  they  did 
not  get  me  that  time  and  Libby  Prison  has  been 
robbed  of  an  expected  treasure. 

\Miile  here  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  had 
charge  of  the  fort  until  the  third  of  December. 

It  was  whispered  about  that  Generals  I-ee, 
Johnson  and  others  were  in  a  position  to  watch 
our  movements  and  that  we  might  expect  an  at- 
tack at  any  time.  But  we  were  not  worried  over 
this  report  with  such  Generals  as  U.  S.  Grant, 


MY  WAR  RECORD 


Sherman,  Howard,  W'eitzel  and  others.  We 
knew  that  they  would  be  able  to  flank  any  move- 
ment that  they  might  make. 

On  ]\Ionday  the  fifth,  we  took  up  our  line  of 
march  to  a  destination  unknown  to  us,  there  were 
all  kinds  of  rumors  as  to  where  we  would  stop. 
but  at  last  we  found  ourselves  to  the  left  of  Fort 
Harrison  on  the  left  of  the  line.  Here  we  camped 
under  orders,  ^^'e  engaged  in  the  usual  prep- 
arations for  a  stay,  putting  up  our  tents,  building 
huts  and  making  things  convenient  for  all  con- 
cerned. But  the  next  day  the  Colored  troops 
w^ere  ordered  to  prepare  two  days'  rations  and 
to  advance.  Then  our  countenances  changed. 
We  did  not  know  but  that  another  fierce  battle 
was  in  store  for  us ;  and  we  had  had  quite  enough 
fighting  to  satisfy  us  for  a  long  while.  On  Wed- 
nesday, we  were  in  front  of  the  Johnnies,  with 
our  breastworks  thrown  up  ready  for  fight. 

The  Colored  regiments  were  consolidated  in 
the  Second  Division,  Third  Brigade,  Twenty 
Fifth  Army  Corps.  A  number  of  detached  men 
were  taken  from  the  regiments.  Orderly  I.  J. 
Hill  was  Brigade  Postmaster,  I  was  with  the  com- 
missary department.  All  things  were  quiet  along 
the  lines  excepting  the  laughing  and  yelling  of 
the  Johnnies.  Once  in  a  while  they  would  throw 
a  shell  into  our  camp.  At  this  time  we  would 
hear  their  cheers  and  laughter. 


62  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

On  January  the  first,  we  were  in  front  of  Rich- 
mond, Va.  Here  we  engaged  in  battle  with  the 
Rebels,  which  was  terrific.  The  anxiety,  suffer- 
ing, slashing,  shooting,  were  beyond  description. 
;Many  lay  dead  on  the  battlefield,  baking  in  the 
sun.  There  were  dead  animals  which  had  been 
exposed  for  two  weeks,  the  stench  was  unbear- 
able. These  are  some  of  the  indescribable  tor- 
tures of  war. 

The  rebels  soon  retired  from  their  position, 
for  they  w^ould  not  have  been  able  to  withstand 
the  Union  Army.  They  were  in  constant  expecta- 
tion of  the  coming  of  Sherman  who  at  that  time 
was  in  the  vicinity  of  Atlanta,  Ga.  We  were  un- 
der marching  orders  until  the  thirteenth.  Col- 
onel Wooster  received  orders  to  place  his  head- 
quarters near  our  own  regiment.  I  was  deter- 
mined that  I  would  keep  up  my  enthusiasm  and 
do  all  in  my  power  to  supply  the  boys  with  some- 
thing to  eat. 

On  the  twenty-third  the  rebel  fleet  moved 
down  the  James  River  towards  the  Dutch  Gap 
Canal  and  opened  fire  on  Fort  Bradley  keeping 
it  up  all  night.  The  following  morning  the 
whole  line  was  drawn  up  for  action,  at  long  range 
with  reinforcements  in  the  rear.  The  shelling 
was  terrific  all  day.  I  w^as  in  the  basement  of  a 
house,  when  a  shell  came  through  the  window, 
burst  and  tore  its  way  through  the  building.  This 


MY   WAI{   KECOKD  <i> 


house  was  used   for  headquarters.     Fortunately 
none  of  us  were  hurt.     Only  the  everlasting  arm 
of   God   protected   us,    for   all  our    friends   who 
witnessed  the  shell  and  its  devastations,  supposed 
that  we  were  all  killed.  The  Quartermaster  hav- 
ing received  a  w^ound  in  his  knee,  the  Quarter- 
master Sargeant  and  I  had  to  do  all  the  work. 
At  this  time  Orderly  I.  J.  Hill  and  others  were 
let  off  on  parole  and  went  home  for  twenty  days. 
The  Confederates  made  another  dash  to  retake 
their  lost  territory  and  to  make  sure  of  the  per- 
manent establishment  of  the  Slave  Traffic  which 
has  been  the  curse  of  every  nation  or  people  who 
has  adopted  it.     Their  plan  was  to  out-flank  us 
and  to  effect  a  great  slaughter  and  capture  many 
of  our  men  and  guns  and  ammunition.     And  it 
seemed  to  us  that  they  were  after  the  Colored 
troops.  But  our  leaders  were  too  shrewd  for  them 
and  they  were  repulsed  and  their  depot,  maga- 
zines and  machine  shops  at  Beaufort,  N.  C,  w^ere 
blown  up  and  also  at  Newberne.    A  great  battle 
was   fought  about  Fort   Fisher   and  the  Rebels 
were  overcome.     Hundreds     w^ere     killed     and 
wounded  in  this  battle. 

The  Colored  troops  in  front  of  Richmond  w'ere 
moved  from  the  breastworks  on  the  left  at  Fort 
Harrison,  to  the  hill  in  the  center,  where  we 
built  up  a  fine  elevation  overlooking  the  Rebel 
works  in  Richmond.     Here  we  remained  several 


64  <^UT  t)F  THE  BRIARS 


days  under  heavy  cannonading.  We  held  the 
enemy  so  that  they  were  unable  to  make  any 
gains  on  us  for  four  weeks.  They  made  several 
attempts  to  storm  and  to  cut  ofif  our  supply,  but 
they  signally  failed.  But  our  men  understood 
how  to  construct  railroads  and  we  would  fre- 
quently hear  the  whistle  of  a  locomotive  in  some 
direction  bringing  in  our  supplies.  Our  forces 
were  well  guarded  on  every  hand  by  squads 
which  were  experts  in  caring  for  the  welfare  and 
needs  of  an  army.  We  could  hear  the  result 
of  our  bombarding  in  such  cities  as  Petersburg, 
etc.,  and  knew  that  our  forces  were  gradually 
gaining  and  that  the  Rebels  were  gradually  los- 
ing in  their  strongest  holds. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  March  we  struck 
our  tents  and  moved  on  to  Richmond.  We  were 
soon  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  front  of  this 
city.  The  Rebels  blew  up  three  gunboats  and 
evacuated  their  works  immediately  in  front  of 
us.  There  was  heavy  cannonading  from  the  gun- 
lx)ats  in  the  James  River,  the  Monitor  and  other 
boats. 

At  this  time  there  were  many  refugees  com- 
ing to  us  by  the  hundreds.  This  was  in  part  the 
result  of  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea.  He  left 
iti  his  wake  many  monuments  of  this  famous 
march.  There  were  deserted  villages,  chimneys 
standing  without  the  houses  about  them,  and 
troops  of  stragglers  following  the  army. 


MY  WAR  RKCORT)  65 


Colonel  Wooster  ordered  the  29th  Regiment 
to  advance  and  to  do  some  daring  work  in  the 
digging  up  of  buried  torpedoes  which  had  been 
planted  to  impede  the  march  of  the  Union  Army. 
We  were  however  equal  to  the  task.  We  cap- 
tured five  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  six  thou- 
sand small  arms,  and  the  prisoners  I  did  not 
count,  but  when  we  looked  on  them  in  the  prison 
pen,  the  number  seemed  to  be  enormous. 

We  were  present  in  Richmond  when  President 
Lincoln  made  his  triumphal  entry  into  the  city. 
It  was  a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten.    He  passed 
through  the  main  street.    There  were  multitudes 
of  Colored  people  to  greet  him  on  every  hand. 
They    received   him    with    many    demonstrations 
that   came   from   the   heart,   thanking   God   that 
they  had   seen  the  day  of   their   salvation,  that 
freedom  was   theirs,   that   now   they   could   live 
in  this  country,  like  men  and  women,  and  go  on 
their  way  rejoicing.     Orderly  I.  J.  Hill  said  that 
he  saw  a  colored  woman  trying  to  get  a  look  at 
the  president,  at  last  he  came  along  and  Orderly 
Hill  said  to  her :  "Madame,  there  is  the  man  that 
made  you  free."    She  shouted,  "Is  that  President 
Lincoln?  Glory  to  God,  give  Him  praise  for  His 
goodness."   The  President,  with  his  son,  and  Ad- 
miral Porter,  together  with  others  walked  over 
a  mile  to  the  headquarters  of  General  Weitzel,  at 
the  mansion  of  Jeff  Davis.    A  colored  man  acted 


6«  OUT  OF  THK   BRIARS 

as  the  guide.  There  were  six  Union  soldiers  as 
advance  guard,  then  came  President  Lincoln, 
his  son,  and  Admiral  Porter,  while  on  his  right 
and  his  left  were  other  officers.  He  was  follow- 
ed by  six  sailors  with  their  carbines.  This  march 
created  the  wildest  enthusiasm  of  the  Colored 
people.  They  had  lived  to  see  the  day  of  their 
liberty  dawning.  I  was  reminded  of  what  had 
been  done  for  the  ancient  Hebrews  by  ]Moses 
when  he  led  them  out  of  the  land  of  their  bond- 
age, into  the  land  of  their  promised  liberty.  Lin- 
coln was  indeed  our  ]\Ioses.  He  led  us  forth. 
He  gave  us  our  freedom.  I  noticed  one  white 
lady  in  a  window,  who  turned  away  from  the 
whole  scene  as  if  in  utter  disgust.  There  were 
still  two  sides  to  the  question,  then  and  there 
are  two  sides  to  it  today.  How  long  aviII  these  two 
sides  remain,  is  the  question.  As  the  President 
looked  out  upon  the  poor  Colored  people  and  re- 
membered how  many  lives  had  been  lost  in  work- 
ing out  their  salvation,  he  was  not  able  to  keep 
the  tears  from  his  eyes.  They  were  tears  of 
gladness  and  sorrow,  of  regret  and  delight;  but 
the  tears  of  my  own  people  were  the  tears  of  the 
greatest  joy. 

The  President  went  to  the  state  capitol  where 
he  made  a  short  address  in  which  he  said  :  ''Now 
you  Colored  people  are  free,  as  free  as  I  am. 
God  has  made  vou  free  and  if  those  who  are  vour 


MY    WAK   HKCOKl) 


superiors  are  not  able  to  recognize  that  you  are 
free,  we  will  have  to  take  the  sword  and  musket 
and  again  teach  them  that  you  are  free.  You 
are  as  free  as  I  am,  having  the  same  rights  of 
liberty,  life  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness." 

While  at  Richmond,  we  engaged  in  many  for- 
aging expeditions.  We  found  such  things  as 
eggs,  chickens,  butter,  bread,  fruit,  tobacco.  There 
were  bales  of  tobacco  in  the  streets  free  for  every 
one  who  enjoyed  the  weed.  And  I  must  say  that 
many  were  delighted  with  their  free  smokes. 
There  was  plenty  of  Confederate  money  too, 
which  was  often  blown  about  by  the  wind  as  so 
much  worthless  waste  paper.  Well  it  w'as  waste 
paper.  With  the  passing  of  the  Confederacy, 
the  money  value  passed  away  on  all  such  curren- 
cy. 

On  April  i6th,  1865,  we  were  painfully  shock- 
ed to  hear  of  the  death  of  President  Lincoln,  at 
the  hands  of  an  assassin.  Xo  one  can  measure 
the  consternation  which  struck  our  hearts.  This 
great  and  wonderful  man  who  had  guided  ihe 
Ship  of  State  through  four  years  of  such  peri- 
lous waves  and  winds,  that  he  should  thus  pass 
away  and  in  such  an  infamous  manner,  was 
more  than  we  could  stand.  But  it  was  so.  Our 
■  faith  was  almost  staggered,  that  faith  which  had 
sustained  us  in  so  many  battles,  was  now^  stag- 
gering under  a  blow  which  was  severer  than  any 


68  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 


battles,  the  death  of  our  Immortal  leader.  Thus 
in  four  years  from  the  first  shot  fired  on  Fort 
Sumter,  four  years  from  the  very  day  of  the  first 
shot,  the  shot  was  fired  from  the  hand  of  Booth. 
that  removed  one  of  the  greatest  men  the  world 
ever  knew,  from  the  scenes  of  human  action.  He 
was  removed  too  at  a  time  when  he  was  most 
needed.  Yes,  he  was  more  needed,  than  when 
the  nation  was  in  the  midst  of  a  bloody  conflict. 
He  was  now  needed  to  set  up  the  battlements  of 
peace,  which  is  a  more  difficult  work  than  the 
forts  of  warfare. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  we  moved  from  the 
camp  near  Petersburg,  to  Camp  Lincoln  where 
we  enjoyed  our  camp  life  for  awhile.  We  had 
lost  many  of  our  numbers  through  death  on  the 
battlefield  and  disease  in  the  camp,  but  losses 
were  now  being  recruited  by  volunteers  coming 
to  us.  I  was  kept  busy  filling  our  regimental 
papers,  ordering  and  issuing  rations.  Some  of 
our  men  had  become  so  rum  thirsty  that  they 
would  ofifer  me  ten  dollars  for  a  canteen  full  of 
whisky.  But  I  w^as  not  allowed  to  sell  it,  and  to 
give  it  out  only  on  the  orders  of  the  Quarter- 
master. 

We  were  not  here  long.  We  embarked  on 
the  Demolay  for  Norfolk,  Ya.  General  Russel 
and  stafif  came  on  board  to  tell  us  goodbye.  I 
had  two  barrels  of  supposed  corn  beef,  the  boys 


MY    WAR  RECOUr*  0» 


called  it  salt-horse,  which  I  suppose  was  nearer 
the  truth.  I  had  also  a  barrel  of  sugar.  These 
I  could  not  ship,  so  I  left  them  on  the  <?round, 
for  some  poor  fellows  that  could  use  them.  Col- 
onel W'ooster  came  also  and  saw  us  of¥.  We 
left  many  friends,  some  of  them  with  tears  in 
their  eyes.  They  had  become  very  dear  to  us. 
We  had  shared  together  the  hardships  of  camp- 
life  and  of  the  battlefield.  Human  suflfering 
makes  men  very  near  akin.  As  we  glided  swift- 
ly down  the  James  River,  for  a  while  we  could 
hear  their  cheers  and  when  sound  was  out  of 
touch,  we  could  see  their  salutes  of  hats  and 
handkerchiefs.  We  enjoyed  the  day  as  soldiers 
on  board  the  vessel.  I  was  astonished  at  the  be- 
havior of  the  soldiers.  They  gave  themselves 
over  to  all  kinds  of  sports  and  jestings,  which 
disgusted  me  most  thoroughly.  ^lany  were  un- 
ruly, even  threatening  the  lives  of  those  who 
favored  going  to  Texas  whither  we  had  been  or- 
dered for  garrison  duty.  Some  of  the  gang  were 
arrested  for  their  insubordination.  ]\Iy  heart 
was  made  to  shudder  at  the  degrading  and  shame- 
ful life  which  was  manifested  on  board  the  ship. 
Their  swearing,  drinking,  gambling,  dancing, 
etc.,  was  heartsickening.  It  was  indeed  a  revela- 
tion and  shows  what  men  will  do  when  not  un- 
der the  eye  of  authority.  Human  nature  is  in- 
<leed  most  sinful,  and  were  it  not  for  the  restric- 


OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 


ticns  which  are  thrown  about  us,  none  of  us 
know  what  might  come  to  pass.  We  arrived  at 
Norfolk  and  anchored  for  the  night.  With  hav- 
ing witnessed  the  debauchery  on  board  the  vessel 
and  at  the  same  time  wrought  with  anxiety  for 
my  wife  and  two  babies,  my  father  and  mother 
at  home,  I  confess  I  was  in  a  most  depressed 
condition  of  mind  and  heart.  *'Be  strong  and  of 
good  courage,"  came  to  me  like  a  flash  and  I  was 
strong  and  buoyant  in  a  little  while.  How  grand 
is  the  truth  of  God.  wdien  we  find  it  such  a  rock 
of  refuge  in  times  of  trouble;  I  was  thus  great- 
ly consoled  and  went  to  bed  looking  up  at  the 
shining  stars,  as  if  they  were  so  many  angels, 
sent  by  God,  to  guard  me. 

There  was  quite  an  excitement  on  board  w^hen 
it  was  W'hispered  about  that  the  officers  had  cov- 
enanted together  to  take  the  soldiers  on  board, 
to  Cuba,  and  sell  them  as  slaves.  There  was 
quite  an  indignation  against  I.  J.  Hill,  for  it  was 
thought  that  he  was  in  some  manner  party  to 
this  arrangement.  The  men  were  suspicious  also 
of  Sam  Brown,  a  clerk.  I,  together  with  others, 
had  the  good  fortune  to  escape  any  insults  or 
indignities.  While  at  Norfolk,  we  went  to  church 
and  saw  quite  a  number  of  well-to-do  Colored 
people.  Rev.  J.  ]\I.  Brown,  of  the  A.  ]\I,  E. 
Church,  I  think  was  pastor.  He  treated  us  very 
cordially  indeed.     We  were  introduced  to  many 


BETHEL  A,  M.  K  CHURCH 

Built  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton,  D.D. 


MV    WAR    KKCOKD 


of  the  congregation.  This  church  had  a  Sunday 
School  of  six  or  seven  hundred  members.  It  was 
an  inspiring  sight  to  see  them  nicely  dressed  and 
to  hear  them  sing  so  sweetly,  many  beautiful 
Sunday  school  songs.  lUit  the  time  had  come 
when  \vc  had  to  leave  the  many  dead  of  our  com- 
rades. We  had  done  all  that  we  could  for  them 
in  the  last  sad  rites  of  death  and  now  their  bod- 
ies were  resting  under  the  cold  sods  of  the  South, 
awaiting  the  Resurrection  Day,  when  we  will  all 
meet  again  and  hear  our  record  of  the  deeds  done 
in  the  body  and  the  judgment  based  on  these 
deeds.  The  memories  of  war  are  one  of  the  sad- 
dest features  thereof.  These  memories  can  never 
be  blotted  out;  for  as  we  grow  older  they  seem 
to  become  more  vivid. 

We  took  shipping  on  the  transport,  Blackstone, 
for  Texas.  We  were  about  fifteen  days  on  the 
waters,  the  ocean  was  calm.  There  were  six  or 
seven  hundred  on  board.  It  was  no  little  job  to 
take  care  of  the  hungry  stomachs  of  these  men. 
But  we  had  a  most  pleasant  trip  and  enjoyed  the 
ocean  waves  and  breezes.  The  officers  spent 
most  of  their  time  in  fishing.  Once  in  awhile  a 
fish  six  or  seven  feet  long  would  be  hauled  in. 
For  two  days  we  were  out  of  sight  of  land  and 
only  one  small  schooner  passed  us.  There  was 
much  complaint  on  board  on  account  of  the  army 
food  which  I  was  compelled  to  give  them  salt- 


72  Ol'T  OF  THE  BRIARS 

pork  or  hard  tack  and  bad  coffee.  They  thought 
that  being  on  board  of  ship  warranted  better 
food,  but  I  told  them  that  I  had  to  give  them 
what  I  had.  And  so  we  fought  the  battle  of  the 
stomach.  There  were  many  however  who  were 
afflicted  with  sea-sickness  and  had  no  concern 
for  something  to  eat.  We  had  a  burial  at  sea. 
The  poor  soldier  was  sewed  up  in  a  blanket  and 
consigned  to  a  grave  in  the  bottom  of  the  deep. 
The  funeral  service  was  very  impressive  to  many 
of  us,  for  it  was  the  first  burial  at  sea  we  had 
witnessed.  I  must  confess  that  there  was  a 
grandeur  about  it  that  inspired  one — as  the 
boundless  ocean  received  the  body  of  our  com- 
rade, eternity  had  received  his  soul.  I  thought  of 
his  loved  ones  and  that  in  all  probability  they 
would  never  hear  of  him.  Then  I  wondered  if 
that  grand  song  could  not  be  an  interpretation  of 
this  burial, 

"Rocked  in  the  cradle  of  the  deep, 
I  lay  me  down  in  peace  to  sleep. 
In  ocean  cave  still  safe  with  Thee, 
The  germ  of  Immortality.'' 

At  this  time  I  was  not  a  member  of  the  church. 
But  my  father  had  taught  me  to  pray.  And  as 
I  have  frequently  related,  I  often  prayed  in  bat- 
tle when  I  thought  that  my  time  had  come.  I  had 
a  sense  of  the  guilt  of  sin  and  of  the  need  of 


MV   WAK    KKCOIID 


confession  of  my  sins.     So  I  had  also,  the  sense 
of  peace  which  comes  from  a  man's  justification 
through  Jesus  Christ.     My  case  I  am  sure  is  but 
an   ilhistration   of   the   cases   of   many  men   and 
women  who  have  not  connected  themselves  with 
the  church.     They  are  real  Christians  as  I  was, 
having  all  the  ordinary  experience  of  the  Chris- 
tian, but  not  having-  made  any  outward  profes- 
sion.   We  are  therefore  unable  to  know  who  are 
the  children  of  God,  for  certainly  there  are  be- 
lievers outside  of  the    church.      Our    judgment 
therefore  must  always  be  a  charitable  one.     Yet 
I  do  not  want  the  impression  to  be  made  that  I, 
in  any    sense,    approve    of    believers    remaining 
outside  of  the  church.     An  outward  profession 
of  faith  in  our  Blessed  Lord,  Jesus  Christ,  is  an 
open  badge  of  our  religion  which  men  can  see. 
We  should  not  hide  our  light  under  a  bushel,  but 
put  it  on  a  candle  stick  that  all  about  us  may  see 
what  we  are  by  what  we  live.    W'hen  we  rounded 
the  Florida  reefs,  the  boys'  hearts  were  gladden- 
ed, because  they  had  seen  the  land  once  again 
and  their  thought  was  that  they  were  nearing 
the  end  of  the  voyage.     We  had  some  sickness 
on  board,  such  diseases  as  yellow  jaundice,  ma- 
laria,  chills   and    fever.      We   were   huddled   to- 
o-ether  like  a  lot  of  wild  ducks  and  the  sanitary 
conditions  were  against  our  health.    When  about 
seven  days  on  our  tri]),  our  drinking  water  failed 


74  <>l  T  OF  THE  BRIARS 

US.  We  were  on  the  water,  yet  we  had  no  water 
to  drink ;  but  we  did  the  best  we  could  under  the 
circumstances. 

We  were  glad  when  we  came  into  the  harbor 
at  Mobile,  Ala.  Here  we  found  many  trans- 
ports lying  in  the  harbor.  Fort  Gaines  was  to 
our  right  and  Fort  Morgan  to  our  left.  The  boys 
were  all  delighted,  because  they  were  wild  to  get 
to  land  again,  and  especially  to  get  a  drink  of 
good  water.  How  dependent  we  are  on  mother 
earth  after  all  for  our  lives.  After  passing  the 
forts  a  short  distance  the  anchor  was  dropped. 
The  surroundings  were  grand.  There  were  gun- 
boats lying  in  the  stream,  with  their  artillery  of 
death-dealing  cannon  looking  forth  from  the 
decks  and  thoroughly  manned  with  the  smaller- 
implements  of  naval  warfare.  But  our  hopes  were 
not  fulfilled,  for  a  command  came  that  we  were 
to  sail  immediately  to  New  Orleans.  The  men 
were  bitter  in  their  disappointment,  but  such  is 
the  experience  of  war.  Men  are  not  free,  they 
are  the  parts  of  the  gigantic  machine  of  death, 
so  many  cogs  in  the  wheels,  or  so  many  wheels 
in  the  machine,  or  so  many  parts  of  the  machine. 
They  soon  became  reconciled  however.  We  had 
plenty  of  hard  tack  and  salt  horse  left  us,  and 
with  this  we  could  not  starve  to  the  death.  Our 
voyage  was  an  uneventful  one,  save  for  the  good 
weather  and  fine  ocean.     We  were  soon  in  the 


MY  WAK   UKCORD  75 


channel  for  New  Orleans.  When  we  reachied 
the  forts  Jackson  and  Phillips,  a  signal  stopped 
us  for  inspection.  We  were  told  that  we  could 
not  go  to  New  Orleans,  that  none  of  the  men 
or  officers  could  go  any  further  without  an  or- 
der from  General  Grant.  The  officers  telegraph- 
ed to  Washington  to  General  Grant.  We  were 
in  rather  a  dilapidated  condition,  about  out  of 
coal  and  in  need  of  better  fuel  for  the  stomach, 
with  the  men  completely  worn  out  with  the  voy- 
age. 

We  were  however  permitted  to  go  on  land  at 
Fort  Jackson.  This  was  a  magnificent  fort  with  its 
seventy  guns  overlooking  the  water  inlet.  There 
were  many  alligators  in  this  place  and  we  amused 
ourselves  by  killing  them,  which  of  course  was 
a  greatly  desired  thing.  I  had  plenty  of  hard 
tack  and  this  seemed  to  attract  the  reptiles.  I 
remember   one    fellow    over    seven    feet   long    I 

killed. 

At  this  place  the  Colored  troops  had  been 
shamefully  and  barbarously  treated.  As  I  thought 
of  the  outrages  which  they  had  suffered  only 
about  one  month  bi^fore  our  arrival,  I  felt  that 
if  I  could,  I  would  l:ke  a  little  revenge  on  their 
account.  But  there  was  no  opportunity  for  such 
outlet  of  wicked  feeling.  At  last  we  received 
an  order  from  General  Grant  to  take  the  trans- 
ix)rt  to  New  Orleans,  to  get  a  supply  of  coal  and 


OUT  OB^  THE  BRIARS 


oil.  and  to  have  the  transport  repaired.  But  to 
our  (Hsniay,  only  the  officers  were  permitted  to 
go.     \Yt  were  left  at  Fort  Phillips. 

I  managed  however,  to  get  to  Xew  Orleans, 
in  that  I  had  charge  of  the  commissary  depart- 
ment. \\'e  were  already  beginning  to  forget  the 
hardships  of  the  battlefield.  Our  minds  were 
turning  to  the  ordinary  life  which  we  live,  and 
looking  forward  to  the  pleasures  c  )nnected  with 
home  and  with  business.  And  I  ^h  uire  you,  my 
dear  readers,  that  it  was  a  happy  'elease.  We 
had  the  constant  joy  in  our  hearts  \hat  our  be- 
loved people  had  their  freedom,  bought  with  the 
blood  of  those  who  now  slept  the  last  sleep  on 
many  battlefields;  but  we  did  not  belie v^e  that 
the  price  paid  for  this  boon  of  liberty  was  too 
dear.  The  price  of  human  liberty  can  never  be 
estimated.  This  is  especially  true  of  those  who 
knew  what  slavery  meant.  And  the  Colored 
Race  has  an  endless  debt  to  pay  their  While 
friends  who  bought  their  liberty  with  their  own 
blood,  ^^''hile  it  is  true  that  the  A\'hite  people 
brought  our  forefathers  here  and  sold  them  into 
slavery,  which  of  course  they  had  no  right  to 
do,  this  does  not  diminish  the  price  w^hich  this 
same  race  had  to  pay  in  order  to  buy  us  out  of 
the  slavery  into  which  they  had  sold  us.  And  it 
does  not  in  the  least  diminish  the  debt  of  grati- 
tude which  we  shall  owe  them  as  long  as  time 
exists. 


MY   WAK    PvKroUrK 


I  had  a  short  but  very  pleasant  stay  in  Xew 
Orleans.  On  Sunday  we  went  to  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  William  A.  Dove 
was  pastor.  This  was  the  St.  James  A.  ]\1.  E. 
Church.  A\'e  were  most  cordially  received  by 
the  pastor  and  members.  They  were  kind  enough 
to  take  care  of  us  while  in  the  city.  We  learned 
from  the  members  that  while  we  were  on  the 
battlefield,  they  were  at  home  fasting  and  pray- 
ing that  our  grand  cause  might  be  victorious. 
"Fight  and  pray"  is  sure  to  win  the  day  for  any 
just  cause.  The  services  were  very  pleasing  and 
profitable.  The  pastor  preached  in  the  morning 
and  our  orderly  I.  J.  Hill,  at  night.  I  and  others, 
were  much  lifted  up  and  realized  ane\v  what  it 
was  to  draw  water  from  the  wells  of  salvation 
We  spent  much  of  our  time  in  seeing  the  sights 
of  the  unique  city  of  the  South.  Our  friends 
were  more  than  kind  to  us  during  our  stay.  We 
lacked  nothing  for  good  beds  and  good  food  and 
good  society ;  and  we  were  in  good  shape  to  ap- 
preciate these  things,  because  of  the  privations, 
losses,  suffering,  and  fears  through  which  we  had 
passed. 

Our  transport  having  been  repaired  and  fur- 
nished with  needed  coal  and  oil  and  food,  we 
were  soon  on  our  way  back  to  the  fort.  We  had 
not  gone  far  on'  our  course  until  there  was  an 
alarm  of  fire.     This  created  quite  a  panic,  but 


OUT  OP  THE   BKIAKS 


the  blaze  was  soon  put  out  and  we  were  enjoying* 
our  tripdowii  the  "Father  of  Waters." 

We  arrived  at  Fort  Phillips  with  more  sol- 
diers for  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  they  having 
been  brought  in  from  other  quarters. 

We  were  soon  off  for  Texas.  With  the  trans- 
port loaded  with  human  frieght,  we  started  for 
Brazos  Be  Santiago,  Texas.  We  found  the  gulf 
quite  rough  on  our  entering  it.  This  produced 
sea  sickness  with  a  great  many.  I  remember  one 
fellow  who  was  very  sea  sick.  I  was  unable  to 
do  anything  with  him.  He  was  continually  call- 
ing out  ''New  York,  New  York."  ''There  goes 
my  liver,"  he  cried;  having  spit  up  some  blood. 
Our  great  trouble  on  this  voyage  was  the  lack 
of  water.  They  had  a  condenser  on  board  which 
reduced  the  amount  of  salt  a  few  degrees,  but 
we  could  easily  taste  the  saline  property  of  the 
water.  We  found  Brazos  a  most  undesirable 
place,  there  were  plenty  of  fleas  and  mosquitoes 
and  sand  burrs.  We  had  our  headquarters  at 
this  place  w^hich  was  knee  deep  in  water.  Oui- 
Colored  troops,  were  nearly  perishing  for  water. 
The  suffering  was  most  intense.  It  was  heart- 
rending. I  cried  out  to  God  to  send  us  some 
help.  We  had  but  little  water  and  that  was  quite 
brackish.  Our  means  of  condensing  the  water 
gave  us  only  about  five  thousand  gallons  when 
we  were  in  need  of  not  less  than  ten  thousand 


MY  WAR   HhX'OKI)  7l» 


gallons.  We  paid  ten  cents  a  canteen  for  water 
and  would  have  been  willing;  to  have  paid  fifty- 
cents,  or  any  price. 

After  a  while  we  met  some  Mexicans  who  had 
brought  water  from  the  Rio  Grand  and  sold  it 
for  ten  cents  a  canteen.  Colonel  Sadrick  was 
very  indignant  over  this  hardship.  When  he  saw 
our  scars  and  realized  how  much  these  good  sol- 
diers had  suffered  and  the  privations  through 
which  they  had  already  passed,  he  saw^  General 
Wietzel  and  requested  that  the  troops  should  be 
taken  from  Brazos.  He  met  with  success  and  we 
took  our  line  of  march  for  White  Ranch  on  the 
Rio  Grande  River  about  ten  miles  south  of  Bra- 
zos. The  march  was  one  of  great  trial.  We  were 
in  mud  knee  deep  and  in  some  places  the  water 
was  waist  deep.  When  we  reached  the  Ranch, 
the  soldiers  were  well  nigh  famished.  They  made 
a  mad  rush  for  the  river  and  w^hile  many  of  them 
were  on  the  bank,  it  gave  way,  and  several  of 
them  were  drowned.  We  were  all  greatly  sad- 
dened over  this  misfortune.  It  seemed  enough 
that  men  should  have  given  up  their  lives  on  the 
battlefield,  this  w^as  matter  of  course;  but  when 
men  wdio  had  stemmed  the  tide  of  death  which 
swept  the  battlefield  w^ere  drowned,  it  seemed 
more  than  we  could  stand  to  see  them  cut  off 
from  their  loved. ones  by  a  mere  accident.  But 
it  was  the  Lord's  way  to  take  some  more  of  them 
home. 


so  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

■  Tt  was  not  a  hard  matter  for  us  to  sleep  the 
lirst  night.  Wq  spread  our  rubber  blankets  on 
the  bare  ground  and  enjoyed  our  rest  as  much 
as  if  our  beds  had  been  made  of  feathers.  The 
next  morning  we  saw  the  body  of  a  man  floating 
down  the  muddy  river.  He  too  had  evidently 
met  with  some  accident,  or  had  been  killed  and 
thrown  into  the  river.  It  was  not  our  duty  to 
make  any  investigation. 

.  I  prepared  the  best  breakfast  possible  for  the 
boys.  Our  fuel  was  gathered  from  the  woods 
and  rail  fences.  I  said  woods,  but  unfortunately 
there  was  not  a  tree  in  the  whole  country,  so  we 
had  to  do  the  best  we  could.  But  we  had  coffee, 
rice,  sweet  potatoes  and  our  regular  rations.  We 
put  up  our  tents  here  and  soon  had  the  camp 
under  military  discipline.  Then  we  left  for 
Brow^nsville,  Texas,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles. 
The  march  was  a  trying  one  on  account  of  the 
bad  roads.  Wt  were  not  able  to  keep  our  stores 
with  us  on  this  account  and  left  a  detail  of  sol- 
diers to  guard  them.  IMany  a  solder  sickened 
and  had  to  be  taken  to  White  Ranch  to  be  cared 
for  by  Orderly  Hill.  Some  of  the  men  died 
on  the  way  and  were  buried  under  the  Texas  sod 
with  no  stone  to  identify  them.  One  boat  was 
on  its  way  to  Brownsville  with  rations.  I  remem- 
ber my  homesickness  at  this  time.  After  the  bat- 
tles had  been  fought,  I  was  anxious  to  return  to 


MY  WAR  KECOlfl)  si 

jiiy  loved  ones.  1  felt  that  my  duty  had  been 
done  towards  my  country  and  that  now  I  must 
take  up  my  duty  to  my  dear  ones.  We  were  soon 
joined  by  Orderly  Hill.  He  said  that  he  had  got- 
ten tired  waiting  for  the  boat  and  had  come  on 
to  be  with  us.  He  threw  a  few  chunks  together 
and  started  a  hre  and  lighted  his  pipe.  After  a 
few  moments  reflection,  he  said :  "These  light 
afflictions  are  but  for  a  moment,  for  they  work 
for  us  a  far  more  and  exceeding  weight  of  glory." 
We  met  a  drove  of  hungry  wolves  which  made 
two  or  three  attempts  to  come  to  us,  but  about 
fifteen  shots  from  our  guns  were  enough  to  sat- 
isfy them  they  had  no  more  need  of  us  than  we 
had  of  them.  In  time  we  reached  Brownsville. 
We  saw  strange  things  there.  The  houses  were 
little  huts ;  the  people  dressed  in  their  shirts  and 
drawers ;  the  women  dressed  in  a  long  shirt  with 
their  breast  exposed,  seemingly  caring  nothing 
for  decency  or  modesty.  It  did  not  look  to  me 
that  the  people  here  had  ever  known  what  it  was 
to  know  or  to  serve  the  true  and  living  God.  They 
were  certainly  far  from  any  such  practical  knowl- 
edge, judging  from  their  daily  lives.  I  thought 
"If  the  righteous  scarcely  be  saved  where ^^"^^^"^ 
shall  the  sinner  and  the  ungodly  appear?"  The 
next  morning  I  was  not  feeling  well.  I  went  to 
one  of  the  streams  and  bathed.  There  were 
plenty  of  lizards,  frogs  and  horned  toads  about. 


82  OFT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

The  horns  of  the  toad  reminded  one  of  the  horns 
of  a  goat.  It  was  a  place  of  trials.  Some  of  the 
men  swore  and  cursed,  others  were  kept  too  busy  <;• 
scratching,  while  others  were  praying.  It  was 
a  time  of  sore  trials.  One  of  our  officers,  Cap- 
tain Clark  ought  to  have  been  with  the  Greys  in- 
stead of  the  Blues,  he  had  so  little  use  for  the 
Colored  troops.  So  he  marched  them  almost  to 
death  on  this  march.  Colonel  Wooster,  a  man 
of  tender  feeling  and  of  a  proper  sense  of  right 
and  justice  and  without  prejudice  against  the 
Colored  people,  saw  the  outrage  perpetrated 
against  us  and  put  Clark  under  arrest.  He  was 
kept  theie  until  Colonel  Wooster  resigned.  After 
he  left,  we  were  again  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Claik.  Orderly  Hill  was  very  sick  and 
was  ordered  ic  the  General  Hospital.  As  I  look- 
ed upon  him  I  sjid  to  myself,  Hill  you  are  a  very 
sick  man  and  your  warfare  is  about  ended.  There 
were  about  seven  hundred  in  the  hospital  sick. 
They  were  treated  as  if  they  had  been  brutes, 
doctors  and  nurses  being  without  any  feeling. 
They  were  dying  at  the  rate  of  ten  a  day.  The 
stewards  would  search  ihe  dead,  take  their  valu- 
ables, then  report  them  dead.  What  a  contrast 
between  our  camp  on  the  banks  of  the  James 
River  and  the  camp  in  this  lar  off,  God-for-sak- 
en  town  of  Brownsville,  Texas. 

And  now  after  all  our  hard  fought  battles,  our 


.MY    WAK   RECOKD  88 

fears  and  foreboding,  our  privations  and  losses, 
we  received  the  news  from  the  War  Department 
that  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  was  ordered 
home.  It  is  needless  to  say,  that  the  home-fever 
spread  more  rapidly  than  any  fever  that  had  ever 
prevailed  in  our  ranks.  We  looked  for  and  pa- 
tiently awaited  the  day  when  we  would  be  or- 
dered out.  On  die  fourteenth  day  of  October, 
1865,  at  nine  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  recruiting  officer 
was  on  the  ground,  at  which  time  Company  K. 
was  mustered  out.  We  were  escorted  through 
Brownsville  by  the  Ninth  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Colonel 
Bailey  being  in  command.  We  marched  to  an 
open  field  where  the  two  regiments  bid  each  other 
goodbye.  It  was  an  impressive  scene,  for  these 
regiments  had  shared  each  others  fortunes  and 
misfortunes  through  the  war.  They  had  become 
inseparable,  but  now  the  best  of  friends  must 
part.  How  happy  we  were  that  we  should  be 
permitted  to  breathe  the  fresh  air  again  and  to 
tramp  through  tlie  country  as  free  men.  Yet  I 
had  the  feeling  that  the  Civil  War  was  the  migh- 
ty struggle  of  the  White  Race  and  that  the  strug- 
gle of  the  Colored  Race  was  yet  in  the  futu^re. 
There  is  such  a  thing  as  a  man  having  to  work 
out  of  his  own  salvation,  and  this  is  also  true 
of  a  race.  Our  salvation  had  been  bought  for  us 
by  the  nation,  but  it  is  ours  now  to  work  out  this 
salvation.   As  we  marched  out  through  the  grand 


OUT  OF  THE   RRTArvS 


country  and  these  thoughts  came  to  me,  I  cried 
out  to  God,  "Can  these  dry  bones  Hve?  ^^'ill 
this  country  give  the  Colored  man  an  equal 
chance  in  the  marts  of  trade,  in  industrial  fields, 
and  in  the  professions?  He  is  yet  untried  in  the 
ranks  of  an  aggressive  civilization,  for  he  has 
been  a  slave.  Can  these  dr}^  bones  live?''  These 
were  the  prayer-thoughts  that  were  filling  my 
mind  and  heart.  Our  march  was  a  trying  one 
on  account  of  the  bad  condition  of  the  roads,  but 
we  were  going  home.  Xo  one  but  the  soldier 
who  has  been  honorably  discharged  after  an  issue 
has  been  settled,  knows  the  joys  that  well-up  in 
the  heart  as  he  turns  his  face  homeward.  The 
feeling  is  indescribable.  There  were  several  boys 
sickj  but  their  spirits  were  revived  on  account  of 
home-going.  We  soon  reached  Brazos  where  we 
spent  the  night.  I  w^as  very  glad  to  say  goodbye 
to  my  Texas  friends  and  experience.  They  could 
live  on  the  sandy  plains  of  Brownsville,  as  long 
as  they  pleased  ;  they  could  eat  the  strips  of  dried 
goat  meat  until  they  were  satisfied ;  they  could 
flrink  and  relish  the  muddy  wafer  of  the  Rio 
Grande  considering  it  the  best  water  in  the  world  ; 
but  as  for  me,  I  would  choose  other  quarters. 
Now  that  the  Confederacy  had  surrendered,  now 
that  the  Palmetto  Flag  had  been  lowered  forever 
and  Old  Glory  floated  in  its  stead,  now  that  mil- 
lions of  people  were  made  free  and  could  live  and 


MY   WAK    KKCOKh  S5 

think  as  real  men  and  women,  I  was  more  than 
happy  to  say  goodbye  to  all  these  things  and  be- 
i^m  life  anew. 

We  embarked  on  the  transport  Alabama,  for 
New  Orleans.  Our  voyage  on  the  gulf  was  a 
rongh  one  on  account  of  a  heavy  storm.  We 
were  forced  to  cast  anchor.  We  passed  Galves- 
ton and  were  much  pleased  with  the  place.  We 
found  the  citizens  much  more  sociable  than  we 
had  expected,  for  we  knew  that  they  were  Se- 
cessionists and  Rebels  and  that  they  had  about 
as  much  use  for  Negro  soldiers  as  the  Devil  has 
for  Holy  Water.  Nevertheless,  we  went  through 
the  town  and  made  the  acquaintance  of  some  of 
our  brethren.  \\'e  met  an  old  lady  who  had  been 
a  slave.  W^hen  she  saw  us  and  realized  that  the 
victorious  end  had  come,  she  cried  at  the  top  of 
her  voice,  "The  Lord,  the  Mighty  One  has  con- 
quered and  we  are  all  free!  (ilory  to  God!"  We 
took  on  wood  and  T  regulated  my  rations  for  we 
were  four  hundred  and  tifty  miles  from  New" 
Orleans.  We  were  again  on  lK)ard  the  transport 
for  New^  Orleans,  but  we  were  unable  to  leave 
the  harbor  on  account  of  a  fearful  gale  that 
swept  the  gulf.  We  made  an  attempt,  but  were 
forced  back  again  into  the  harlx:)r.  The  soldiers 
became  quite  unruly  owing  to  their  impatience 
and  also,  I  suppose  the  feeling  that  they  could 
do   as   they   pleased.     After   a   hard   voyage   we 


m  OUT  OP  THE  BRIAH8 

landed  safely  in  New  Orleans.  We  found  an 
open  lot  in  the  soutli  side  of  the  city  and  put  up 
our  tents  and  made  ready  for  a  good  night's 
sleep.  We  felt  that  we  could  sleep  now.  That 
we  had  taken  part  in  a  mighty  conflict  and  had 
shared  in  the  victories  of  the  war,  it  was  now 
our  right  to  rest.  It  was  the  sleep  of  the  just 
man. 

We  had  a  quiet  Sunday  in  New  Orleans.  Our 
chaplain  preached  for  us.  Great  crowds  came 
out  to  visit  us  and  to  give  us  their  most  hearty 
congtratulations.  They  gave  us  coffee,  sand- 
wiches, fruits,  etc.,  in  token  of  the  appreciation 
of  our  services  in  their  behalf.  We  saw  strange 
things  in  New  Orleans.  We  found  the  mixture 
of  French  and  Negro,  called  the  Creole,  speaking 
a  dialect  of  the  French.  We  found  the  Octoroon 
and  that  some  of  these  unions  had  from  one  to 
seven  children.  We  found  that  marriage  among 
them  was  rather  an  uncommon  thing  and  that  a 
man  could  establish  almost  any  relationship  that 
pleased  him  and  enter  into  the  Creole  life  and 
be  received  and  welcomed  as  one  of  them.  We 
found  that  they  drank  more  claret,  champagne, 
whisky,  beer,  etc.,  than  they  did  water.  They  of 
course  had  no  sense  of  their  obligation  to  God 
and  I  suppose  that  many  of  them  really  had  no 
conception  of  the  Real  and  True  God.  Their 
lives  gave  no  evidence  of  such  a  knowledge. 


MY   \\  AK   KECOHD  87 

The  first  annual  conference  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church  was  being  held  by  Bishop  J.  P.  Camp- 
bell. We  enjoyed  the  services  very  much  being 
in  the  spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  were 
in  New^  Orleans  two  weeks.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  one  of  the  men  was  shot.  This  created  quite 
an  excitement  among  us.  We  broke  camp  soon 
and  marched  through  the  streets  to  the  v/harf 
where  we  took  ship.  We  were  enthusiastically 
greeted  on  every  hand,  receiving  god-speeds  and 
congratulations  and  blessings.  I  shall  never  for- 
get the  musical  voices  of  the  people  as  they  sang. 
The  music  sounded  like  a  thousand  silver  harps, 
so  soft  and  delicate  and  stirring  it  was !  We  went 
on  board  the  steamer  Champion.  We  said  good- 
bye to  the  old  city  of  New  Orleans  and  to  many 
of  the  new  friends  which  we  had  made.  We 
had  a  heavy  sea.  The  storms  were  terrific. 
Our  clothes  were  almost  continuously  wet  owing 
to  the  rocking  of  the  vessel,  for  days  it  was  im- 
ix)ssible  to  find  a  place  to  sleep.  The  voyage  was 
quite  rough  all  the  way  to  New  York.  At  last 
we  arrived  at  New  York  City.  It  was  morning. 
We  remained  on  lx)ar(l  until  about  two  p.  m., 
when  we  left  the  boat  and  marched  through  the 
l>rincipal  streets,  receiving  cheers  and  salutes.  We 
liad  not  forgotten  our  former  experiences  here 
however.  And  we  were  inwardly  revolving  the 
thought  that  as  Black  men  we  had  done  our  part 


88  OUT  OF  THE  BKIAHS 

in  bringing-  about  a  change  of  sentiment  that 
would  make  a  new  city  out  of  New  York  and 
every  other  city  in  the  Union.  And  we  felt  that 
it  was  but  just  that  we  should  receive  some  of 
the  plaudits  of  praise  and  reward.  When  we 
jjassed  down  Broadway  in  front  of  the  St.  Nich- 
olas Hotel,  the  flags  of  the  Nation  and  of  the 
state  were  suddenly  hoisted  1)y  a  Colored  man 
and'  we  gave  three  lusty  cheers  for  the  flag  and 
country  and  home.  At  last  the  orders  came  to 
fall  into  line  for  our  final  trip.  We  marched 
to  pier  twenty  eight  East  River  where  the  steam- 
er. Granite  State,  was  waiting  to  carry  us  to 
Hartford,  Conn.  The  distance  was  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles.  We  were  cheered  by 
every  town  and  village  that  we  passed.  We  ar- 
rived at  Hartford  and  were  escorted  to  the  camp 
grounds  and  tendered  a  fine  reception  by  tiie 
citizens,  a  most  pleasing  welct^me. 

At  eight  o'clock  one  niorning  we  were  ])aid 
off,  all  but  one  hundred  dollars  bounty  which 
was  to  be  paid  at  some  future  date.  Some  went 
to  their  homes,  others  remained  in  Hartford,  im- 
til  they  had  spent  all  their  money  and  were  lock- 
ed up  in  the  prisons  by  the  police  officers.  After 
having  cleared  up  my  commissary  department 
and  turning  over  my  lx)oks  and  papers  to  the 
proper  custodian,  and  having  said  farewell  to  my 
comrades,  I  took  a  midnight  train  for  my  home 
in  New  Haven. 


MY   WAK   KKOOKO  8» 


The  occasion  of  iny  sudden  departure  from 
Hartford  is  very  interesting.  One  of  our  sol- 
diers was  passing  a  Jew  store.  He  was  begged 
to  go  in  and  buy  a  suit.  He  got  the  suit  of  clothes 
and  walked  out  without  paying  for  it.  The  sol- 
dier canie  into  camp  and  soon  the  Jew  followed. 
1  would  not  allow  him  to  enter  camp  and  arrest 
the  soldier.  Not  long  afterward,  I  went  down 
town  and  the  Jew  had  me  arrested  and  locked 
up.  1  was  in  jail  until  about  midnight  when 
some  of  my  friends  liberated  me.  Immediately 
1  made  my  way  to  the  station  and  left  Hartford. 
1  do  not  know  that  the  Jew  got  his  money  and 
1  was  not  much  concerned. 

1  arrived  at  home  at  seven  o'clock  in  the 
morning  and  found  my  wife  and  children,  my 
father  and  mother,  ready  to  give  me  the  most 
hearty  welcome  and  greeting  which  I  received 
with  a  glad  heart.  I  was  not  seen  out  of  my 
house  for  about  three  weeks.  I  simply  wanted 
to  rest  and  to  drink  in  the  joys  that  were  await- 
ing me.  Then  ^  went  to  Brooklyn,  my  wife's 
home,  and  registered  as  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States.  I  again  thanked  God  that  the  war  was 
over  and  that  slavery  was  dead.  "Now  unto  Him 
that  hath  loved  us  and  washed  us  from  our  sins 
in  His  blood,  to  Him  be  glory  and  dominion  and 
power,  now  and  forevermore.     Amen !" 


ALEXANDER  H.  NEWTON 

A  Young  Pastor 


Mm  MiniBlnmi  KlxU 


•  -l  i 


Mm  Ultmstrrial  SttV  anft  iCabors 


After  I  had  returned  from  the  war,  I  took 
the  needed  rest,  enjoyed  the  company  of  my 
family  and  got  myself  together  for  a  new  life: 
I  had  the  consciousness  of  having  done  my  duty 
to  my  country,  of  having  contributed  something 
to  the  liberation  of  my  people  from  the  galling 
yoke  of  slavery,  and  now  the  time  had  come  in 
my  life  for  me  to  determine  upon  what  course  1 
could  enter  that  would  contribute  most  to  the 
working  out  of  the  salvation  of  my  people  upon 
lines  of  peace  and  prosperity.  This  was  no  little 
task.  I  decided  that  the  best  way  to  find  out 
what  God  wanted  me  to  do,  was  to  follow  the 
leading  of  His  Providence  in  my  life.  I  knew  of 
no  other  way  by  which  a  man  can  ascertain  the 
will  of  God.  God  is  in  the  life  of  every  indivi- 
dual as  fully  and  really  as  He  is  in  the  life  of  a 
race  or  a  nation.  So  I  surrendered  myself  to 
His  leading,  determined  that  I  would  follow  Him 
whatever  might  be  the  cost.  I  felt  a  double  as- 
surance now  that  He  had  delivered  me  from 
death  in  many  bloody  struggles,  that  He  had 
something  of  importance  for  me  to  do,     I  was 


94  OUT  OF  THE   BKIARN 

not  content  to  take  up  the  old  life  that  I  had 
lived  l>efore  the  war,  to  remain  in  the  fields  of 
manual  labor,  not  that  I  considered  myself  above 
such  a  life,  but  I  felt  that  there  was  a  course  that 
would  Ije  vastly  more  valuable  to  m}  brethren, 
to  my  race.  And  I  did  not  consider  it  egotism 
to  honestly  conclude  that  God  had  given  me  tal- 
ents that  warranted  me  in  seeking  such  a  course. 
"To  every  man  according  to  his  ability,"  is  the 
law  of  service.  A  man  must  find  out  what  his 
ability  isr  God  already  knows  what  talents  He 
has  already  alloted  to  this  or  that  man  according 
to  his  ability.  In  this  way  and  this  way  only, 
can  (iod  and  man  be  brought  together,  in  the 
work  of  life. 

On  the  evening  of  May  sixth.  I  was  received 
on  probation,  into  the  Fleet  Street  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  of  which  Elder  Gould  was  tlien  pastor.  I 
served  as  assi.stant  superintendent  and  Secretary. 
Elder  Cope  1>eing  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School  ;  Robert  Turpin.  one  of  the  preachers, 
was  a  close  friend.  I  was  engaged  while  in 
this  church  together  with  others  in  a  Social  Bet- 
terment work.  This  work  was  conducted  in  a 
house  to  house  canvass,  or  visit.  Great  work  was 
done  during  this  year  at  the  Bridge  Street  A.  M. 
E.  Church  the  Rev.  Wm.  Winder  being  pastor, 
There  were  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  young 
people  added  to  the  church  on  profession  of  their 


BISHOP  JABEZ  P.  CAMPBELL,  D,  D,,  LL.  D, 

Who  gave  me  my  first  appointment 


MY    iMINISTKKIAL    LIFK  »5 


faith  in  Christ.  The  Revs.  WiUiams,  Boyer,  and 
Turpin,  were  the  ministers  who  assisted  in  this 
revival. 

I  preached  my  trial  sermon  at  the  Fleet  Street 
Church  on  the  evening  of  September  the  i8th, 
1871,  and  received  Exhorters'  license  from  Elder 
Theodore  Gould.  On  the  following  Sunday,  I 
went  with  Rev.  Matthews  and  others  to  Pater- 
son,  N.  J.,  where  we  organized  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church.  The  people  of  Paterson  seemed  to  have 
l>een  greatly  lifted  up  and  great  good  was  done 
in  their  city  for  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  Later  on 
Bishop  J.  P.  Campbell  told  Elder  Gould  that  he 
wanted  a  young  man  to  take  charge  of  a  church 
where  a  school  was  located.  Brother  Gould  was 
kind  enough  to  tell  him  of  my  desire  for  work 
and  doubtless  recommended  me.  Bishop  Camp- 
l>ell  took  hold  of  me  and  gave  me  my  lirst  ap- 
pointment at  Pennington,  N.  J.,  where  I  took 
charge  of  the  church  and  attended  the  school, 
Pennington  Seminary.  The  leaders  of  the  new- 
church,  Brothers  Allen,  Ely  and  Amanias  John- 
son looked  at  the  new  preacher  very  inquiringly 
and  doubtless  were  laughing  up  their  sleeves  for 
I  had  not  gotten  the  flimsy,  panhandle,  look  oft 
nie  as  yet,  and  they  were  a  little  slow  in  taking 
hold  of  me  and  I  did  not  know  how  to  take  hold 
of  them.  However,  I  managed  to  get  on  the 
iiood  side  of  Bro.  Allen.     I  told  him  the  troubles 


9«;  nVT  <>F  TtlE   P.IMAIJS 

of  niy  heart  and  got  his  .sympathy.  One  of  these 
troubles  was  that  I  did  not  know  much.  He  said 
that  he  would  hel])  me  all  he  could  and  that  I 
must  stay  close  to  the  cross  of  Christ.  So  with 
the  assistance  of  God's  grace  and  the  help  of 
Brother  Allen,  I  was  able  to  surmount  all  ob- 
stacles. I  organized  a  church  in  the  house  of 
Lewis  Schenks,  at  Lawrenceville. 

1  organized  the  church  at  Birmingham,  having 
been  assisted  by  Brothers  Jos.  Long  and  Maxwell 
Frost  of  Trenton.  This  church  was  afterwards 
reorganized  and  moved  to  Langhorne  by  Dr. 
John  W  .  Stevenson.  I  attended  the  Pennington 
Seminary  under  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Hanlon. 
Rev.  Mr.  Marshall  and  the  sister  of  Dr.  Hanlon 
were  of  great  service  to  me  in  my  preparatory 
course.  One  day  I  was  walking  through  the  cam- 
pass  when  I  met  Dr.  Hanlon.  He  stopped  and 
fixing  his  eyes  on  me  said:  "Young  man  you 
should  walk  upright  before  God  and  remember 
that  all  your  strength  comes  from  Him."  I  shall 
never  forget  the  deep  impression  that  his  advice 
made  on  me.  It  deepened  my  conviction  of  the 
Divine  life  in  man  and  of  the  necessity  of  liv- 
ing that  life  daily.  1  felt  no  doubt  like  Naaman 
that  J  had  need  to  go  to  the  Jordan,  the  river 
of  Israel  and  be  washed  from  my  leprosy  of 
sin.  This  was  the  first  time  that  1  had  charge  of 
a    church    and    1     felt    the    keen    responsibility.. 


REV,  THEODORE  GOULD,  D.a, 

Who  gave  me  my  first  license  to  preach. 


MV   MINISTERIAL    LIFH  97 


And  I  do  not  doubt  that  those  who  heard 
me  preach  had  the  feeHng  that  instead  of  my 
having  charg-e  of  them  that  they  should  have 
charge  of  me.  But  such  things  are  of  the  order- 
ing of  the  Lord  who  chooses  babes  to  confound 
the  wise  and  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  mighty.  There  is  a  time  when  a 
man  feels  that  the  best  thing  that  he  can  do  is 
to  get  out  of  self  into  Christ.  Self  is  one  of  the 
greatest  blessings  if  Christ  is  its  center,  but  if 
man  himself  constitutes  the  center  of  life  it  is  the 
stronghold  of  every  sin. 

While  engaged  in  this  work  I  frequently  had 
to  walk  ten  miles  to  Sorel  Mountain,  one  of  my 
appointments,  which  was  a  part  of  this  circuit. 
My  salary  was  indeed  very  small,  but  they  fed 
me  and  cared  for  me  the  best  they  could,  and 
God  did  the  rest.  I  closed  my  work  here  with 
twenty-three  converts  added  to  the  church. 
As  I  write  these  lines,  I  look  back  to  see  the  rav- 
ages of  time  and  what  they  have  wrought.  Those 
who  were  received  into  the  church  by  me  at  that 
time,  with  very  few  exceptions,  have  finished 
their  battle  of  life  and  completed  their  labors, 
long  since,  and  have  gone  home  to  render  a  bet- 
ter service  than  they  could  have  rendered  here. 

I  made  improvements  on  the  Church  buildings 
of  the  circuit  and  was  able  to  make  a  good  re- 
port to  the  Conference  which  met  at  Philadelphia. 


98  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

At  this  conference  I  was  received  into  member- 
ship by  Bishop  Paul  Quinn.  It  was  here  that  I 
made  for  the  first  time,  my  acquaintance  with 
Dr.  B.  T.  Tanner,  Rev.  T.  G.  Stewart,  Rev.  Fris- 
by  Cooper  and  others.  Rev.  Joshua  Woodland 
was  my  presiding  elder.  I  was  permitted  to  at- 
tend the  Lincoln  University,  in  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania.  I  was  supported  by  ^Ir.  Amos 
Clark  Junion  of  Elizabeth,  X.  J.,  and  preached 
on  Sundays  in  the  Siloam  Presbyterian  church. 
Here  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  local  preacher, 
Rev.  David  Croshon,  of  the  A.  ]\I.  E.  Church 
and  Brother  Scisco  from  whom  I  learned  a  great 
deal  about  church  work.  Being  wholly  inexper- 
ienced and  poorly  educated,  I  felt  the  curse  of 
the  regime  of  slavery,  although  I  had  never  been 
a  slave.  I  longed  for  the  equipment  that  comes 
from  a  thorough  education  and  realized  that  if 
in  some  way  I  did  not  educate  myself,  I  could 
never  amount  to  much.  So  it  is  hard  for  me  at 
my  time  of  life  although  a  closer  student  than 
ever,  to  understand  or  to  be  in  sympathy  with 
any  preacher  who  in  his  ignorance,  is  satisfied 
to  remain  so.  There  is  something  sadly  lacking 
in  such  a  man  and  I  greatly  fear  those  qualities 
without  which  no  man  is  either  acceptable  to 
God  or  to  the  church,  as  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel. 

I    realized   also   that   in   addition   to   my   own 


BISHOP  WILLIAM  PAUL  QUINN 

"Who  received  me  into  the  Conference 


MY  -MIMSTERIAL  LIFE  [)^ 


weakness  that  this  world  was  no  friend  to  grace 
to  help  me  on  to  God.  I  had  many  foes  within 
and  without  me  to  overcome. 

In  June,  1870,  I  was  requested  by  Bishop  J. 
P.  Campbell  to  report  at  the  Philadelphia  Con- 
ference, he  having,  in  the  interval  taken  me  up 
and  sent  me  to  the  Pennington  circuit.  I  report- 
ed at  the  conference  and  was  transferred  to  the 
South  under  the  care  of  Bishop  John  M.  Brown. 
I  was  sent  to  Pulaski,  Tenn.  This  was  about 
the  time  that  the  Klu  Klux  Klan  was  having  its 
sway  in  the  south.'  These  men  were  engaged  in 
every  kind  of  intimidation  and  cruelty  in  order 
to  keep  the  Negroes  from  voting  the  Republican 
ticket.  They  w^ould  kill,  torture,  or  do  anything 
that  came  into  mind  in  order  that  their  purpose 
might  be  realized.  At  this  time  there  were  many 
Colored  people  holding  office  in  the  South.  The 
unrest  and  the  mental  suffering  of  these  times 
were  as  severe  a  strain  almost  as  the  period  of 
the  war  itself.  When  I  arrived  at  Pulaski,  Tenn, 
I  was  introduced  to  what  I  might  expect  in  the 
South.  I  presented  my  check  to  the  baggage 
master  for  my  trunk.  He  refused  to  take  ine 
trunk  off  the  car,  but  threw  it  upon  the  platform 
in  the  roughest  manner.  A  \\'hite  man  standing- 
near,  saw  that  I  was  very  much  surprised  at  such 
treatment  and  approaching  me,  asked  if  I  did  not 
like  that  kind  of  treatment  and  that  if  I  did  not 


100  OUT  OP^  THE  BRIARS 

he  would  proceed  to  give  me  some  more  of  it.  I 
told  him  that  I  had  made  no  complaints  at  all. 
He  asked  me  where  I  was  going  and  what  I  was 
doing,  and  I  was  glad  to  slip  away  and  find  the 
-Steward  of  the  church.  I  related  these  things  to 
him  and  he  told  me  that  I  had  acted  wisely  in 
being-  calm  and  making  no  fuss  over  the  matter. 
He  told  me  that  the  White  folks  were  Klu  Klux- 
ing  the  Colored  people  without  mercy  and  going- 
out  of  their  way  to  find  provocations  for  such 
devilish  work.  The  steward  told  me  that  I  would 
have  to  be  very  careful  as  a  minister  in  and  out 
of  the  pulpit,  that  the  Klu  Klux  Klan  was  es- 
pecially after  the  preachers  to  force. them  to  use 
their  influence  to  make  the  Negroes  vote  the 
Democratic  ticket  in  elections. 

They  foimd  me  a  boarding  place  with  a  ^Ivs. 
Batts.  I  found  that  the  Colored  men  of  this 
community  were  doing  good  business.  One  was 
a  cotton  merchant,  a  Air.  Harris,  I  remember.  I 
was  greatly  assisted  in  this  charge  by  my  local 
preachers.  They  were  more  experienced  than  I 
in  the  wx>rk  of  the  pastorate  and  I  felt  them  to 
be  my  superiors  in  everything.  The  meetings 
were  good.  Souls  were  converted  and  many  were 
added  to  the  church.  There  was  not  much  money 
in  circulation  and  the  salary  was  small.  They 
used  cards  to  trade  with,  postage  stamps,  and 
whatever  of  value  would  be  accepted  or  exchang- 


MY    MIMSTKKIAL    I.IFK  101 

eel  for  what  you  wanted.  I  remember  one  night 
the  Khi  Khix  Klan  came  to  the  house  of  one  of 
my  members,  a  ]\Ir.  Pleasant  Rector,  called  him 
to  the  door  and  shot  him  down  as  if  he  had  been 
a  dog.  His  wife  and  children  were  frightened 
almost  to  death.  One  of  his  daughters  asked  me 
what  she  must  do.  1  could  tell  her  that  nothing 
would  help  such  dreadful  matters,  so  we  all  w^ent 
to  the  church  and  prayed  over  the  matter,  and  1 
consoled  them  as  best  I  could.  These  were  dread- 
ful times.  The  hatred  and  the  revenge  of  the 
Southern  Wliite  man  who  had  been  whipped  bv 
his  Northern  A\'hite  Brother,  were  now  visited 
uix)n  the  still  helpless  race.  We  had  to  receive 
the  very  wounds  which  the  Southerners  would 
loved  to  have  visited  upon  his  White  brothers, 
and  which  they  tried  to  visit  upon  them  in  war. 
but  failed.  \\'e  did  a  good  work  here  along 
temperance  and  missionary  lines. 

In  September,  1873,  the  Conference  convened 
at  Alemphis,  Tenn.  This  was  the  annual  con- 
ference of  the  A.  ]\I.  E.  Church  and  it  convened 
at  the  St.  Andrews  Chapel  of  that  city.  Rev.  B. 
L.  Brooks,  preached  the  opening  sermon.  The 
Bishop,  John  M.  Brown,  was  belated,  so  the  con- 
ference proceeded  with  business,  having  made 
Elder  Page  Tyler  chairman,  and  Elder  Brooks, 
secretary.  The  regular  routine  of  business  was 
purposed.     Bishop  Brown  arrived  on  the  fourth 


102  OrX  OF  THK    BRIARS 

day,  having  gotten  his  dates  mixed,  then  he  was 
afraid  that  at  that  time  it  was  unwise  to  hold 
any  piibhc  meetings  owing  to  the  presence  of  yel- 
low fever  in  the  city.  The  Conference  remained 
in  session  until  it  had  completed  its  business. 
Yellow  fever  at  this  time  was  raging  in  ]\Iem- 
phis.  A  friend  told  me  that  he  stood  at  a  street 
corner  and  counted  seventy-four  funerals  as  they 
passed.  In  the  house  where  I  was  stopping,  there 
was  a  yellow  fever  case  in  the  room  next  to 
mine.  The  meeting  of  the  Conference  in  ]\iem- 
phis  was  a  very  successful  one  considering  the 
obstacles  contended  against. 

The  following  Conference  held  a  year  later, 
was  in  Nashville^  Tenn.  This  Conference  was 
presided  over  by  Bishop  Brown.  At  this  con- 
ference several  were  ordained  as  deacons,  among 
them  myself.  While  at  Nashville,  the  Confer- 
ence visited  Fisk  University  and  also  the  Ten- 
nessee college. 

During  this  time  I  remained  at  Campbell 
Chapel,  Pulaski,  Tenn,  We  bought  ground  and 
made  brick  and  quarried  stone,  for  the  basement 
of  a  church.  There  were  about  fifty  members 
added  to  the  church. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  speaking  frequently  of 
the  great  injustice  done  the  Colored  man  in  the 
South  at  this  time.  Prejudice  was  rife.  It  show- 
ed its  hydra-head  in  every  possible  way  and  was 


MY   MINISTEKIAL  LIFE  103 


a  serpent  with  a  venomed  sting.  I  remember  an 
incident  which  ilkistrates  how  fearful  this  preju- 
dice was.  I  saw  a  White  man  bring  his  horse 
up  to  a  pubHc  watering  place,  and  about  the  same 
time  a  Colored  man  drove  his  horse  up  to  the 
same  trough.  He  said  to  the  Colored  man,  "A 
Nigger's  horse  can't  drink  with  my  horse,"  and 
ordered  him  away.  Immediately  a  mob  gathered 
and  beat  the  man  to  death  for  this  ''crime."  I 
preached  the  funeral  of  the  poor  fellow,  but  was 
not  allowed  to  refer  to  the  circumstances,  or  I 
suppose  there  would  have  been  another  funeral 
in  a  day  or  so.  My  report  at  the  end  of  this  year 
was  a  reasonably  good  one,  the  number  who  had 
joined  the  church  was  about  one  hundred  and  ten 
and  for  all  purposes  we  raised  about  $2,518.00. 
I  was  indeed  very  well  satisfied  with  the  work 

of  the  year. 

The  next  Conference  met  in  Chattanooga.  This 
conference  was  presided  over  by  Bishop  Brown^ 
assisted  by  Bishop  Ward.  The  various  reports 
showed  the  church  to  be  in  a  growing  and  pros- 
perous condition.  The  Conference  report  show- 
ed 9527  members  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  in  this 
Conference,  1122  probationers,  210  local  preach- 
ers, 120  exhorters,  114  churches,  valued  at  $iofS,- 
101.00.  This  was  a  good  showing  so  soon  after 
the  war.  At  this  Conference  I  was  appointed 
to  a  charge  in  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  with  Elder 


104  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

R.  French  Harley  as  my  presiding  elder.  We 
had  a  fearful  flood  during  this  year  in  Chata- 
nooga.  There  was  great  suffering  and  loss  ol 
property.  I  did  not  do  well  in  this  charge^  how- 
ever I  completed  the  church  and  added  86  to  the 
membership  of  the  Church.  I  found  that  it  was 
necessary  to  turn  two  men  out  of  the  church,  for 
their  misconduct.  They  gained  the  confidence 
and  bias,  of  the  presiding  elder,  and  he  moved 
me  from  this  place.  Thus  it  is  that  a  man  must 
suffer  for  the  right  that  he  does,  while  many  go 
unpunished  for  the  evil  doings.  But  that  should 
afford  no  reason  for  not  always  doing  the  right. 
We,  as  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  must  take  our 
stand  for  the  uprightness  of  character  and  the 
righteousness  of  conduct,  without  any  consider- 
ation of  the  price  which  this  stand  will  cost  us. 
Bishop  Brown  transferred  me  to  the  Arkansas 
Conference,  which  met  at  Pine  Bluff'.  Arkansas. 
At  this  conference  I  was  ordained  Elder  by  Bish- 
op Brown  and  sent  to  the  Bethel  A.  ]\I.  E.  Church 
at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 

I  found  in  this  city  the  prejudice  against  the 
Colored  people  rife  and  that  they  had  to  contend 
against  very  great  odds  on  every  hand.  But  in 
spite  of  this,  many  of  the  Colored  people  were 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  There  were  men 
prominent  in  the  ministry  who  had  gone  out  from 
this  place,  such  as  Revs.  H.'H.  Pettigrew,  Reuben 


MY  MINISTKKIAT.  LIFE  inr, 


Johnson,  A.  A.  Williams,  J.  F.  A.  Sission,  J.  T. 
Jennifer,  Andrew  J.  Chambers,  and  others.  The 
Hon.  Judge  Gibbs,  WiUiam  Rector,  and  Elias 
Rector  who  was  fiilhlhng  a  prominent  place  in 
the  post  office  were  leading  business  men.  The 
church  here  was  built  by  Brother  J.  T.  Jennifer, 
D.D.  :^tv  daughter  Ada  was  with  me  at  this 
time,  my  son  William  Alexander,  having  remain- 
ed in  Tennessee.  There  were  many  noble  work- 
ers in  this  church,  viz:  Joseph  Stone,  Jerome 
Lewis,  Nelson  Warren,  Sam  White,  Willie  Oli- 
ver, and  others  whose  names  are  too  numerous 
to  mention. 

:My  wife,  Olivia  Newton  having  died  in  1868, 
and  being  a  widower,  while  here  I  became  ac- 
quainted with  a  young  lady,  :\Iiss  Lulu  L.  Camp- 
bell, secretary  of  the  Sunday  School.  I  found 
her  to  be  a  noble  Christian  woman  and  felt  that 
the  Lord  had  brought  us  into  contact  for  a  great 
purpose.  After  having  considered  the  matter 
and  having  consulted  my  daughter  and  finding 
that  she  approved,  we  were  married  June  i,  1876. 

After  paying  off  a  little  more  of  the  debt  on 
the  church  and  adding  about  ninety  souls  to  the 
membership  of  the  church,  I  finished  my  first 
\-ear's  work.  The  Conference  met  the  following 
year  at  the  Bethel  Church,  Little  Rock.  At  this 
Conference  I  was  transferred  by  Bishop 
Ward    to    the    Louisiana    Conference    and    was 


mo  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

to  have  been  stationed  at  the  St.  James 
Church,  Xew  Orleans,  but  owing  to  some  miscar- 
riage in  the  appointments,  I  was  given  the  sta- 
tion at  Algiers,  La.  There  as  in  other  places,  I 
was  not  long  in  arranging  and  drilling  my  forces 
for  active  work.  We  succeeded  in  repairing  the 
church,  but  were  greatly  hindered  by  the  ragings 
of  smallpox  and  yellow  fever  in  this  section.  I 
remember  a  fearful  example  of  the  work  of  the 
K.  K.  K.  in  this  section.  A  woman  had  been 
taken  bv  this  devilish  clan  and  thev  had  cut  off 
her  breasts.  She  showed  her  bosom  to  a  few  and 
they  had  done  their  work  well,  for  her  bosom 
was  as  flat  as  a  man's.  These  were  some  of  the 
outrages  that  were  continually  committed  on  the 
Colored  people.  It  is  sometimes  wondered  at, 
that  the  Colored  people  are  so  slow  to  place  con- 
fidence in  the  \\'hite  Race,  that  they  too,  have  a 
deep  seated  prejudice  which  now  and  then  crops 
out  in  some  vile  offense  against  the  White  Race, 
if  our  ^^llite  friends  only  understood  that  these 
fearful  atrocities  committed  then  and  even  now, 
against  my  people,  are  not  easily  forgotten,  they 
would  the  better  understand.  Human  nature  is 
the  same  and  it  will  require  a  great  deal  of  the 
grace  of  God  to  smother  out  all  the  horrible 
memories  that  have  passed  from  individual  hearts 
into  the  heart  of  the  Race  to  which  I  belong. 
But  the  time  will  doubtless  come  and  then  \te 
will  see  a  dift'erent  state  of  aft'airs. 


I  remember  another  incident  at  this  place.  As 
I  have  said,  the  smallpox  was  raging".  I  was  in- 
vited to  conduct  the  funeral  of  a  small  boy  who 
had  died  of  this  disease.  When  I  went  to  the 
house  and  was  seen  by  the  mother,  she  rushed 
to  me  and  threw  her  arms  about  me  and  wept. 
Of  course  she  had  been  nursing  the  child.  I  was 
greatly  annoyed  by  this  foolish  act  which  threat- 
ened the  health  of  my  own  family,  but  as  the 
good  Lord  willed,  nothing  came  of  it.  After  do- 
ing my  best  here,  I  decided  that  I  would  not  stay 
longer.  I  consulted  Bishop  ^^'ard  and  others. 
They  told  me  that  I  was  making  a  very  unwise 
step,  but  I  got  a  transfer  and  went  to  Bishop 
Brown 'in  the  North  Carolina  Conference.  The 
Conference  met  November  14th.  at  the  Gaston 
Chapel,  ]\Iorgantown,  N.  C,  presided  over  by 
Bishop  Brown.  The  regular  routine  of  business 
was  taken  up  and  the  reports  showed  a  grow- 
ing condition  of  the  church.  Dr.  H.  M.  Turner, 
manager  of  the  Publication  Department  and  J. 
H.  W.  Burley,  financial  secretary,  appeared  and 
made  their  reports.  The  number  of  members  in 
the  Conference  as  reported  were,  5131 ;  probation- 
ers ^yy ;  churches  58 ;  support  of  pastors  $4749.- 
51.  I  was  received  into  this  Conference  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  station,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

I  had  instructions  to  go  to  ]\Ir.  Norfleet  Dun- 
son,  but  he  was  away  and  I  was  sent  to  Mr. 
Stewart  Ellisons'. 


lOS  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

\\'hen  I  went-  to  Raleigh,  I  had  a  very  dis- 
couraging experience.  I  drove  up  to  a  Brother 
Ellisons',  rapped  on  the  door.  A  lady  came  to 
the  door.  I  told  her  that  I  was  the  preacher  who 
had  been  sent  to  the  St.  Paul's  A.  M.  E.  Church. 
She  informed  me  that  all  her  family  had  gone 
to  the  funeral,  so  I  had  my  trunk;^  brought  upon 
the  porch  and  sat  down  upon  it.  She  had  evi- 
dently expected  me  to  come  in  when  the  trunk 
was  safely  on  the  porch.  But  I  remained  in  the 
porch,  being  worn  out  and  out  of  patience. 

Presently  she  came  out  and  invited  me  in.  I 
told  her  that  no  one  was  at  home  but  herself 
and  that  I  would  remain  outside  until  the  folks 
came  home.  She  said.  "Xow  I  don't  want  any 
foolishness  around  here,  if  you  have  been  sent 
here  to  be  pastor  of  our  church,  you  come  right 
in."  Well,  that  was  hearty  enough  a  reception, 
a  positive  command,  of  course  I  obeyed  orders, 
I  had  learned  this  in  the  army.  Soon  the  family 
returned.  They  were  delighted  to  see  me,  built 
a  fine  fire,  made  ready  a  fine  supper,  and  after  a 
social  time  I  was  sent  to  a  good  bed.  After  I 
retired  I  felt  very  much  ashamed  of  myself  for 
the  ugly  feeling  I  had  harbored  and  repented  of 
my  sins.  It  never  pays  to  allow  one's  bad  feel- 
ings to  get  the  better  of  their  good  feelings,  for 
they  always  pay  a  big  price  for  the  victory.  My 
official   board   was   made   up   of   John   O'Kelley, 


MY   MINISTKIUAL    JAFK  109 


Stewart  Ellison,  Norfleet  Dunson,  Seth  Nowell, 
and  Henry  Hunter.     They  were  a  very  fine  set 
of  men.     W'e  went  to  w^ork  in    earnest,  bought 
a  lot  and  paid  off  a  great  many  debts.     There 
were  over  230  accessions  to  the  church,  of  whom 
I  baptized  about  150  by  immersion.     I  received 
a   salary  of   $1000.00  wdiich   was  very  large  at 
that  time  in  our    Connection.      They    gave    me 
$75.00  that  I  might  bring  my  wife  and  daughter 
from  Algiers,  La.     The  Colored  people  at  this 
place   were   very   successful   in   business   and  of 
good  reputation  and  character.    The  White  peo- 
ple, that  is  those  especially  interested  in  us,  were 
very  kind  indeed.     A  Mrs.   Dorr,    (white)    was 
principal  of  the  school  for  Colored  children.    She 
did  a  great  deal  for  the  uplifting  of  the  Race. 
Mr.  Tupper,  (white)  was  the  president  of  Shaw 
University,  a  Baptist  school  of  the  Colored  peo- 
ple.    :\ly  daughter,  Ada,  taught  rhetoric,  in  the 
Shaw  University. 

I  concluded  my  work  at  this  place  and  was 
able  to  carry  to  the  Conference  fine  reports.  This 
was  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  the  church  was 
very  spiritual.  It  was  on  the  Lord's  side  on  all 
those  questions  which  affect  the  religion  of  a 
community.  Sometimes  a  minister  is  looked  tip- 
on  as  the  cause  of  the  failures  of  a  church,  in 
its  work,  as  a  rule  he  is  blamed,  but  this  is  a 
mistake.    The  general  cause  is  to  be  found  in  the 


no  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

church.  A  good  church  with  a  poor  pastor  will 
succeed,  but  a  bad  church  with  a  good  pastor  is 
hable  to  fail.  Christ  could  do  no  mighty  works 
in  a  certain  place  because  of  their  unbelief.  There 
are  many  good  preachers  who  are  unable  to  do 
good  work  because  of  the  unbelief  of  the  people 
and  the  consequence  of  this  unbelief.  It  acts  as 
a  kind  of  paralysis,  and  indeed  it  is,  a  paralysis 
of  the  church. 

I  left  this  church  for  the  station  of  Xewberne, 
K.  C.  This  was  my  birthplace.  I  was  really 
glad  to  get  back  to  the  place  where  I  first  saw 
the  light.  I  had  been  absent  for  twenty  years. 
I  saw  that  great  changes  had  taken  place  during 
this  time.  There  were  no  slave  gangs,  no  whip- 
ping posts,  no  slave  pen,  no  auction  block.  One 
of  the  first  things  that  I  did  was  to  go  to  see  a 
tree  opposite  the  house  of  Bob  Walker,  in  an  old 
field,  the  spot  where  Tom  Lewis  had  been 
whipped  nearly  to  death  for  attacking  a  White 
man.  After  they  had  nearly  killed  him  they  took 
him  down  to  the  boat  and  put  him  on  it  and  told 
him  that  he  was  never  to  put  the  prints  of  his 
feet  on  that  part  of  the  country  again. 

I  was  received  very  cordially  by  the  church 
members.  ]\Iany  of  them  I  remembered  as  my 
friends  twenty  years  ago  and  longer.  I  had 
charge  of  Rue's  Chapel.  My  first  year  was  a 
very  successful  one.  I  was  returned  again  the 
5econd  year. 


MY   MINISTERIAL    LIFK  HI 


Xewberne  has  quite  a  history.     It  is  situated 
on  the  banks  of  two  rivers,  the  Neuse  and  Trent 
rivers.    The  ehii  trees  are  magnificent.    Here  hved 
the    Stevenses,    Jenkinses,    Bryans,   Webbs,    and 
others,  all  old  slave  ow^ners.  They  were  of  course 
deeply  interested  in  the  traffic  and  did  all  in  their 
power  to  keep  the   regime   from  passing  away. 
There  was  a  Colored  man  at  this  place  that  own- 
ed slaves  also,  a  Mr.  J.  S.   Stanley.     Xewberne 
was  a  great  turpentine  center.     There  were  tur- 
pentine   distilleries    here    and    about   here.      But 
great  changes  had  taken  place.     The  magnificent 
dwelling  house  of  the  Stevens  was  now  occupied 
ed  bv  a  Colored  man  and  run  as  a  hotel.     A  ^Ir. 
George  H.  A\diite  was  the  superintendent  of  the 
public  schools,   (Colored)   at  this  place  and  had 
also  a  law  offtce.     He  afterwards  became  solici- 
tor of  state  and  a  member  of  the  U.  S.  Congress. 
He  is  now  the  president  of  a  Savings  Bank,  on 
Lombard  Street,  Philadelphia,  Penna.     Mr.  Syl- 
vester :\Iackey  and  Judge  :Mumford„  were  mer- 
chants.     Presiding  Elder,   Edward  Hill,   of  the 
Zion  A.  M.  E.  Church,  was  a  wealthy  planter. 
:\Irs.  Edward  R.  Richardson  was  a  clerk  in  the 
Post  Office.     Mr.   John    A\'illis    was    a    deputy 
sheriff.     These  and  other  men  and  women  had 
made   good  their   opportunities.     They  had  not 
onlv  welcomed  the  change  from  slavery  but  they 
had  taken  their  places  as  freedmen  among  the  citi- 


112  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

zens  of  this  country  and  had  demonstrated  that 
they  had  in  them  that  out  of  which  the  best  citi^ 
zens  are  made.  I  forgot  to  mention  that  the  Rev. 
J.  C.  Price,  D.D.,  former  president  of  Livingston 
College,  Salisbury,  N.  C,  was  born  at  this  town. 
Dr.  Price  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  ora- 
tors, educators  and  scholars  of  the  country  re- 
gardless of  color. 

After  my  second  year  at  this  place,  I  attended 
the  General  Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church 
which  met  in  St.  Louis,  AIo.  I  took  my  wife 
and  baby  and  we  went  up  on  boat.  'Sly  daughter 
Ada  returned  to  Shaw  University,  Raleigh,  X.  C. 
where  she  was  an  instructor.  At  St.  Louis,  I 
met  a  great  many  ministers  w^hom  I  knew  and 
many  more  with  whom  I  got  well  acquainted.  I 
was  quite  indisposed  while  there,  but  was  able 
to  attend  the  sessions  of  the  Conference.  It  was 
at  this  Conference  that  Elder  R.  H.  Cain,  D.D., 
made  his  defense  against  the  charge  of  malad- 
ministration in  office.  And  I  am  sure  that  it  was 
his  noble  defense  that  brought  about  his  election 
to  the  office  of  Bishopric.  While  in  St.  Louis, 
I  visited  some  of  the  places  of  interest.  I  called 
upon  ^Ir.  J.  ]\Iilton  Turner,  editor  of  the  Free- 
man's Journal  who  afterward  represented  the 
U.  S.  as  minister  to  Hayti. 

I  visited  a  large  Catholic  (Roman)  school. 
This   was   mv    first   visit   to    a    Roman    Catholic 


MY  MIXISTERfAL  LIFE  li:^ 

institution  of  any  kind.  I  was  deeply  impressed 
with  tlie  services,  with  the  use  of  crucifixes,  and 
tlie  place  that  images  held  in  their  service.  It 
was  very  strange  to  me.  I  could  not  understand 
how  their  minds  and  hearts  could  be  fixed  on  God 
while  at  the  same  time  they  were  giving  so  much 
time  to  these  genuflections,  rituals,  and  ceremon- 
ies. I  remembered  the  second  commandment.  I 
saw  that  this  commandment  was  being  broken. 
For  there  were  the  images  and  likenesses  of 
things  in  Heaven  and  on  the  earth,  if  not  under 
earth.  And  yet  at  the  same  time  these  people 
seemed  to  be  in  earnest,  they  did  what  they  had 
before  them  with  a  devotion  that  attracted.  But 
it  v\^as  all  wrong  because  the  Word  of  God  in 
one  of  the  the  Ten  Commandments  condemned 
it.  The  Roman  Catholic  Church  with  all  its 
pomp,  pride  and  wealth,  is  wrong  in  its  funda- 
mental principals  and  is  therefore  guilty  of  idol- 
atry— they  are  not  worshipping  God  only,  they 
are  worshipping  saints  and  other  divinities. 

On  Thursday,  May  20,  1880,  Revs.  H.  M.  Tur- 
ner, R.  H.  Cain,  W.  F.  Dicker  son  were  elected 
bishops  of  the  A.  ^I.  E.  Church.  Bishops  Payne, 
Wayman,  Campbell,  Shorter,  Ward  and  Brown, 
together  with  the  required  number  of  elders,  of- 
ficiated. I  left  St.  Louis  and  on  my  way  home, 
stopped  over  in  Little  Rock.  Ark.,  spending  Sun- 
day  there.      It   was   my   pleasure   to   preach   in 


114  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

Bethel  Church  on  Sunday  afternoon,  for  the  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  T.  Jennifer,  the  pastor  of  the  church.  I 
enjoyed  meeting  my  many  old  friends.  I  was 
soon  back  at  my  work  in  Newberne,  N.  C,  and 
remained  there  until  the  end  of  the  year.  Quite 
a  number  of  members  united  with  the  church 
and  debts  were  paid  off.  ]\Iy  work  at  this  place 
was  reasonably  successful. 

I  attended  the  Conference  that  met  in  Raleigh, 
N.  C.  On  account  of  my  mother's  health  I  re- 
quested a  transfer  from  this  section  to  the  North, 
and  at  this  Conference  I  was  transferred  to  the 
Conference  of  Xew  Jersey.  I  received  appoint- 
ment to  the  station  of  Morristown,  N.  J.  I  ar- 
rived at  ]\Iorristown  W'ith  my  daughter,  Ada.  It 
was  midnight  and  very  cold.  I  was  somewhat 
discouraged.  ]\Iy  daughter  said  to  me,  father, 
it  is  very  cold  and  the  outlook  is  a  gloomy  one, 
but  I  am  here  to  stay  with  you  and  help  all  that 
I  can.  (Poor  child,  long  since  she  passed  away 
to  that  country  where  the  inhabitants  are  free 
from  the  tribulations  of  this  Avorld.)  I  was  re- 
minded of  a  couplet  in  one  of  the  old  hymns, 

■"Thy  saints  in  all  this  glorious  war 

Shall  conquer  though  they  die." 

I   was   sent  to  the   Morristown   station  to  fill 

out  the  unexpired  term  of  the  Rev.  Mr.   Smith 

deceased.     We  spent  the  night  at  the  parsonage. 

tlien   Mr.    Henry   Ader,   a   prominent  contractor 


BISHOP  JOHN  M,  BROWN,  D.D.,  D,CL, 

Who  ordained  me  as  an  Elder. 


I\IY    MINISTKKl  AT.   LIFE  11", 

and  steward  in  the  church,  came  to  see  us  and 
took  us  to  his  house  until  the  parsonage  was  put 
in  shape  for  us.  We  were  most  pleasantly  enter- 
tained by  him.  While  in  this  held  of  labor  I 
sought  out  a  secret  spot  where  I  niight  meet 
with  God  and  talk  over  with  Him  all  the  work 
that  I  was  entering  upon  in  this  field,  I  realized 
that  such  an  arrangement  with  God  was  best  and 
one  that  every  Christian  who  is  doing  business 
for  the  King,  should  have.  So  I  regularly  kept 
m\  engagements  with  God  in  this  place.  I  put 
before  Him  all  my  plans  and  went  over  them, 
seeking  His  wis'dom  and  help.  It  is  wonderful 
how  He  brings  to  our  assistance  His  strength  and 
grace  when  we  honor  Him  as  we  should  in  this 
way.  The  Saviour  Himself  taught  that  we 
should  have  our  closet,  that  is,  a  secret  place, 
where  we  talk  with  God  about  everything  that 
interests  us.  lliat  we  should  not  do  as  the 
Pharisees  and  Scribes,  who  loved  to  talk  with 
God  on  the  street  corners  and  public  places  that 
they  might  be  seen  of  men.  "When  thou  prayest 
enter  into  thy  closet  and  thy  Father  who  seeth 
in  secret  shall  reward  thee  openly." 

Mr.  Henry  Ader,  Lansing  Furman,  George 
Yates,  Nicholas  ]\Iiller,  Henry  Johnson,  Robert 
Gale,  Preston  Garland,  together  with  their  wives, 
were  the  active  members  in  this  church  and  they 
were  indeed  a   noble  band  of  workers.     There 


116  (^UT  OF  THE    BRTAKS 

was  harmony  in  the  church  between  the  members 
and  a  zeal  marked  with  wisdom  in  their  work. 
I  was  soon  able  to  have  my  wife  and  children 
come  on  from  Little  Rock,  Ark.  This  getting  to- 
gether again  was  a  happy  reunion  of  my  home. 
I  found  the  Y.  AI.  C.  A.  in  this  place  to  be  a  noble 
band  of  workers  and  very  much  interested  in  the 
colored  people.  '  Such  influences  as  this  are  very 
inspiring  to  my  people.  I  met  and  had  the  pleas- 
ant acquaintance  while  here  of  the  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Erdman 
(white).  I  found  him  to  be  a  noble  Christian 
man  and  very  deeply  interested  in  the  uplifting  of 
our  people.  He  not  only  used  his  influence  but 
contributed  of  his  means  for  our  welfare.  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  preaching  for  him  in  his  own  pul- 
pit. I  might  mention  also  a  Dr.  Owen,  a  physi- 
cian (white),  who  did  a  great  deal  for  our  people 
and  cause.  He  assisted  us  in  paying  oft"  the  mort- 
gage on  our  Church  and  in  getting  the  Church 
out  of  debt.  In  all  these  things  I  was  able  to  see 
the  gleams  of  the  light  of  God's  love  shining 
down  upon  us  every  day.  For  we  must  remem- 
ber that  the  love  and  the  friendship  of  our  white 
friends  are  but  the  sunshine  of  God's  love  fall- 
ing upon  us  to  bless  us  and  to  teach  us  that  God 
has  His  own  chosen  ones  in  this  world  who  are 
liA'ing  on  the  table  land  of  Christian  thought 
and  activity,  far  above  the  swamps  of  prejudice 


REV*  ].  W,  COOPER, 

Treasurer  of  the  New  Jersey  Conference. 


MY   MINISTER  I  AT.  LTFK  117 

and  racial  animosity.  We,  too,  should  daily  seek 
to  live  on  these  same  highlands  of  God's  love  and 
peace. 

The  Conference  met  at  Princeton,  N.  J.  I  was 
received  into  the  membership  of  this  Conference 
and  entered  into  the  active  duties  thereof  on  com- 
mittees on  which  I  was  assigned.  I  found  the 
brethren  very  cordial  in  their  welcome  and  pleas- 
ant as  co-laborers  in  the  Lord's  w^ork.  I  met  here 
for  the  first  time.  Elders  J.  W.  Cooper,  J.  H. 
Bean,  George  A.  ^lills,  J.  H.  }^Iorgan,  R.  Fau- 
xett,  J.  T.  Diggs,  Winston  Taylor,  J.  R.  V.  Pierce, 
Wilson  Patterson,  S.  B.  Williams  and  others.  I 
was  assigned  to  ]\Iorristown  and  was  much  pleas- 
ed with  the  appointment.  We  had  a  very  pleas- 
ant year  as  well  as  profitable.  The  Conference 
the  following  year  was  entertained  by  my  Church. 
This  meeting  of  tlie  Conference  was  a  very  pleas- 
and  and  profitable  one.  The  reports  shoAved  that 
in  every  way  the  denomination  in  this  part  of  the 
vineyard  was  doing  its  work  reasonably  well. 
The  Conference  had  the  pleasure  Avhile  here  of 
visiting  Drew  Seminary.  Some  of  our  Bishops 
and  leaders  made  addresses,  which  were  kindly 
received  judging  from  the  responses  on  the  part 
of  the  Faculty  of  this  noble  institution.  This  is 
a  theological  school  of  the  AF  E.  Church.  After 
the  adjournment  of  the  Conference  I  slipped 
away  for  a  much  needed  rest,  not  letting  my  con- 


lis  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

gregation  or  even  my  wife  know  where  I  was 
going.  I  went  to  New  York  City  for  a  few  days. 
Sometimes  it  is  necessary  for  a  man  to  get  awav 
from  every  work  that  he  may  recuperate  himself. 

About  this  time  I  attended  the  funeral  of  my 
cousin,  John  Harris,  living  on  Lombard  street, 
Philadelphia.  AMiile  here  I  met  Bishops  Way- 
man  and  Brown  ;  Financial  Secretarv,  B.  W. 
Arnett,  (since  made  Bishop,  but  now  deceased), 
and  Judge  Allen  (colored),  of  South  CaroHna. 
I  visited  the  Philadelphia  Conference  which  met 
at  \\>st  Chester,  Pa.  This  was  a  very  delightful 
meeting  of  Conference. 

I  soon  returned  to  my  field  of  labor,  at  Morris- 
town,  very  much  refreshed  and  entered  upon  my 
labors  with  new^  zeal  and,  I  trust,  more  wisdom. 
All  through  my  ministry  I  have  been  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  fact  that  we  must  do  all  that  we 
can  for  our  young  people.  They  are,  in  their  own 
time  and  generation^  to  do  all  in  their  power  to 
work  out  the  salvation  of  their  people.  They 
must  be  trained  to  take  up  the  labors  of  their 
fathers  and  mothers  wdth  more  zeal  and  wisdom 
than  their  parents,  so  that  the  cause  of  the  race 
may  Ije  greatly  advanced  by  them  in  their  day. 
V\'hen  I  think  of  the  ten  millions  or  more  of  un- 
people in  this  country,  and  their  destiny  wall  be 
largely  fixed  by  the  coming  generation  of  Afro- 
Americans  :  I  almost  tremble  for  the  outcome,  be- 


MACEDONIA  A,  M.  E,  CHURCH 

Camden,  N.  J. 

Built  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Yeocum,  D.D.,  and 

Rv  A.  H.  Newton,  D.D. 


MY  MINISTEKIAT.    LIFE  HP 


cause  I  fear  that  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  this 
day  and  generation  have  not  done  their  work  as 
well  as  they  could  have  done  it.  There  are  great 
odds  against  us  in  this  country,  and  it  .will  require 
strong  bodies,  characters  and  minds,  together 
with  the  power  and  wisdom  of  God,  to  bring  my 
people  to  the  place  where  they  can  become  potent 
factors  in  this  mighty  civilization.  At  Morris- 
town  I  furnished  the  parsonage,  paid  off  all  debts 
and  added  40  members  to  the  Church.  I  also  or- 
ganized the  Church  at  ]\Iadison,  N.  J. 

On  April  18,  1883.  the  New  Jersey  Conference 
met  at  Bridgeton,  X.  J.,  in  the  :\It.  Zion  A.  :\I.  E. 
Church.    ^ly  report  was  as  follows  :    Contingent, 
$1;  salary,  $580;  traveling  expenses,  $12;  P.  E. 
supix)rt,    $49:    Dollar    :Money,    ^2'/;    Missionary 
Fund,  $12;  Sunday  School,  %22\  number  of  mem- 
bers, 61 ;  probationers,  4;  Sunday  School  scholars, 
120.  I  was  sent  from  this  Conference  to  Trenton, 
N.   T-.  where  I  spent  two  years  in  the  pastoral 
work.     I     increased     the     membership     of     this 
Church  from  62  to  180  during  this  time  and  paid 
off  a  great  many  debts  and  advanced  the  cause  of 
Christ  in   many  w^ays.     After  this   pastorate,    I 
served  the  ^Macedonia  A.   ]\I.  E.  Church,  Cam- 
den, X.  T- 

I  attended  the  General  Conference  in  BaUi- 
niore.  Avhich  was  a  wideawake  meeting.  While 
livino-  and  working  in  Camden.  I  bought  my  first 


1-20  OUT  OF  THE   BRIAKS 

house  and  became  a  property  owner.  I  did  this 
hccaiise  the  parsonage  conld  not  be  vacated  at  the 
time  I  needed  the  house.  I  have  never  regretted 
this  step.  And  I  hope  that  many  who  read  this 
volume  will  take  a  similar  step.  There  is  no  com- 
fort, like  living  under  your  own  ''vine  and  fig 
tree. ''.My  work  in  the  Camden  Church  was  very 
successful.  I  had  associated  with  me  ^Ir.  C.  W. 
Robinson,  Tas\vell  Green,  \\'.  Starr,  James  Hunt, 
James -Martin,  George  Rice,  ^lary  White,  Lizzie 
Green,  Alary  ]\Ierril,  Emma  Pitts,  ]\Iary  Steven- 
son and  other  helpers,  whose  loyalty  and  faith- 
fulness were  most  praiseworthy. 

We  had  the  great  pleasure  of  entertaining  the 
Conference,  which  was  a  most  profitable  meet- 
ing. The  Conference  was  opened  by  a  sermon 
from  Bishop  Campbell  and  presided  over  by 
Bishop  Wayman.  I  was  complimented  at  this 
meeting  by  the  brethren  along  the  strain  that  God 
liad  special  blessings  prepared  for  me  and  that 
in  a  peculiar  sense  He  had  car^d  for  me.  I  told 
them  that  I  praised  Him  for  all  that  I  was,  and 
had  been  able  to  do  for  Him  ;  that  they  all  knew 
that  I  had  started  without  any  education  in  the 
schools.  I  had  been  blessed  with  good  health 
and  or<linarily  good  sense;  that  my  school  was 
the  school  in  which  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Principal 
and  the  Holy  Spirit  the  Teacher;  that  I  had  asso- 
ciated every  day  with  my  schoolmates,  the  sun, 


MY    MTNISTKRIAL    I.II'^I-:  121 


moon,  stars,  rivers,  trees,  grass,  flowers  and 
birds ;  that  the  world  was  luy  blackboard,  and  the 
mountains  my  collej^e  walls.  Here  is  where  I 
got  my  start.  As  I  now^  look  out  on  the  young- 
men  who  are  entering  the  ministry  and  see  the 
splendid  opportunities  they  have  of  acquiring  an 
education,  I  am  really  ap]:)alle(l  that  they  do  not 
improve  these  opportunities.  It  is  a  mvsterv  to 
me.  I  hope  that  the  Holy  Spirit  will  awaken  in  the 
minds  and  hearts  of  the  young  men  of  my  race 
who  expect  to  preach  the  Gospel  the  determina- 
tion and  effort  to  thoroughly  prepare  themselves 
to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

I  was  left  at  the  Macedonia  Church  for  another 
year.  We  were  able  to  complete  the  Church  dur- 
ing this  year,  and  it  was  dedicated  on  the  24th  of 
October,  1886,  by  lUshop  Wayman.  The  collec- 
tion \\  hich  we  were  able  to  raise  at  this  dedica- 
tory service  was  $900.  The  church  building  is  a 
fine  edifice,  with  stained  glass  windows  and  a  fine 
pipe  organ.  We  \vere  very  proud  of  our  work. 
At  this  service  I  performed  two  marriages  be- 
tween Mr.  Frank  Miller  and  Miss  Georgia  Strat- 
ton,  and  Mr.  Charles  J.  Cloud  and  Miss  Sarah  J. 
Beatty.  I  finished  my  work  in  Camden,  paid 
$11,000  on  indebtedness,  was  blessed  with  200 
conversions; of  whom'i6o  united  with  the  church 
and  paid  for  my  house  at  No.  ^^2  Washington 


1 22  OUT  ( >F  TH  E  B  K I A  RS 

Street.  Camden,  X.  J.  I  left  an  indebtedness  of 
$5000  in  the  church. 

The  Conference  of  1886  met  at  Trenton,  N.  J... 
and  was  presided  over  by  Bishop  Wayman.  It 
was  a  very  ])rofitable  meeting.  The  Conference 
appointed  a  committee  to  call  on  the  Governor 
of  the  State.  They  arranged  a  time  and  had  a 
most  pleasant  meeting  with  this  official.  Rev. 
W.  A.  S.  Rice,  D.D.,  was  the  spokesman  of  the 
committee,  which  consisted  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Samp- 
son, D.D.,  W.  A  S  Rice,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  A.  H. 
Newton,  D.D.  The  (governor  afterwards  sent 
for  Dr.  Rice  and  asked  him  what  the  Conference 
wanted  in  making  a  call  upon  him.  Dr.  Rice 
was  not  able  to  say  anything  definitely.  Then  he 
told  Dr.  Rice  of  a  provision  which  the  legisla- 
ture had  made  for  the  founding  and  maintaining 
of  a  Colored  Industrial  School.  The  outcome 
of  this  conference  of  Dr.  Rice  with  the  Gover- 
nor was  that  the  Industrial  School  at  Borden- 
town  was  established  and  that  Dr.  Rice  became 
its  honored   founder. 

I  would  like  to  say  in  this  conncetion  that  the 
chairman  of  this  committee.  Rev.  J.  P.  Sampson. 
D.D.,  my  life  long  friend,  has  ever  been  promi- 
nent in  the  work  of  the  church.  He  is  a  man 
of  fine  ability,  of  sound  judgment,  and  of  noble 
Christian  character.  He  has  been  tested  by  me 
during  a  long  life  and  I  have  ever   found  him 


MY  MIMSTEKfAL  LIFK  lii:^ 

to  be  tried  and  true.  I  always  know  where  to 
find  Dr.  Sampson  on  any  great  and  important 
(|uestion,  he  is  on  the  right  side. 

I  was  sent  to  IJridgeton,  X.  J.,  and  served  this 
•charge  with  cheerfulness  and  success.  At  the 
next  Conference  I  was  ai)jx)inted  by  Bishop 
Campbell,  pastor  over  the  Millville  Circuit.  I 
made  my  home  at  X'ineland,  N.  J.  I  looked  after 
the  church  in  \^ineland.  This  being  a  very  poor 
charge,  my  wife  raised  chickens  and  the  children 
gardened,  and  we  were  able  to  live.  I  went  back 
to  my  old  trade  at  odd  times,  that  of  bricklayer. 
I  did  not  fear  to  take  off  my  coat,  roll  up  my 
sleeves  and  go  to  work.  I  made  S3. 75  a  day. 
paid  off  the  debt  on  the  church,  preached  to  them 
on  Sundays  and  added  quite  a  number  to  the 
-church.  I  went  from  here  to  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  and  was  quite  successful.  I  found  the  peo- 
ple thoroughly  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  King- 
dom of  Heaven.  This  church  had  the  honor  of 
•entertaining  the  Eighteenth  Annual  Conference 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  connection  at  the  end  of  my  first 
the  A.  M.  E.  connection  at  the  end  of  my  first 
year.  This  Conference  showed,  a  deeper  in- 
terest in  the  cause  of  education  than  any  other. 
The  speech  that  stirred  the  Conference  was  made 
1)y  editor  L.  J.  Coppin.  The  reports  at  this 
Conference  showed  a  total  membership  of  4352  : 
Probationers,  1200:  Accessions,  1036:  Preachers, 


124  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

71;  Sunday  School  Scholars,  3694;  Dollar 
Money,  $1538.52;  Pastors'  Support,  $18,000.  1 
remained  at  this  charge  for  another  year.  I 
determined  that  I  would  do  the  best  work  of  my 
life  this  year.  In  examining  myself  I  found  that 
I  was  as  full  of  zeal  as  when  I  first  entered  the 
ministry  and  that  the  secret  motive  was  to  please 
the  Lord  by  serving  Him  to  the  best  of  my 
ability.  I  was  greatly  aided  in  my  work  by  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  Morgan,  the  presiding  elder.  He  had 
the  tact  and  good  sense  to  bring  about  a  most 
pleasant  relationship  between  pastor  and  people 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Pockman,  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  aided  me  very  much  in  my  work.  I  al- 
ways sought  the  advice  and  help  of  my  Meth- 
odist brethren,  as  well  as  the  brethren  of  other 
denominations.  William  Stiles,  Doric  Davis,  Jo- 
siah  Henson,  Thomas  March,  Alice  Thompson, 
Mrs  .March,  Samuel  Dowdie,  Harriet  Henson. 
son  and  others  were  my  valuable  co-workers  dur- 
ing this  year.  We  paid  off  the  debt,  furnished  the 
parsonage,  repaired  and  carpeted  the  church 
building,  paid  the  mortgage  of  15  years'  standing 
and  were  blessed  with  an  addition  to  the  member- 
ship of  forty-two  souls.  I  was  therefore  able  to 
take  a  good  report  to  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Conference.  The  reports  at  this  Conference 
showed  splendid  progress  being  made  by  this 
branch   of   the    Metliodist   Church.      And   it    re- 


MY    M  IN  1ST  K  RIAL  J.IFK  12! 


quires  but  a  brief  examination  to  prove  that  this 
is  also  true  of   every  denomination   represented 
among  my  people.     I   submit  a   few   facts  and 
figures  that  may  l)c  of  great  encouragement  to 
my   friends  who  have  the  patience  to  read  this 
volume.     There  are  55,784  church  organizations; 
56,228  church  buildings;  2,672,977  members  of 
all  denominations;  church  property  is  vakied  at 
$32,510,448;  when   I   enlisted   in  the  Civil  War 
we  had  practically  no  schools,  because  before  the 
war  it  was  a  misdemeanor  to  teach  Colored  chil- 
dren in  school,  now  there  are  upwards  of  2,000,- 
000    Colored    children     attending    well    taught 
schools.     This  is  a  record  of  which  we  are  very 
proud,  but  by  no  means  satisfied  with  the  achieve- 
ment.    We  must  press  forward  along  all  lines  of 
work    and    enterprise.      There    is    no    time    for 
idling,  there  is  no  place  for  drones,  there  is  no 
reward  for  ignorance. 

My  next  assignment  was  Cape  ^lay,  N.  J. 
During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  Height  Bean, 
D.D.,  this  church  had  bought  a  lot  on  which 
was  a  house  used  as  a  parsonage.  We  were 
greatly  favored  here  by  a  Mr.  Ogden,  who  aided 
us  in  procuring  lumber.  He  was  a  most  kind 
man  to  the  poor  and  needy  and  in  his  kindness 
he  knew  no  color  line.  The  church  building: 
was  not  plastered  or  seated,  so  we  decided  to 
borrow  money  for  this  purpose.    We  needed  $500 


}-2H  OUT  OP^  THK   r.KIARS 

and  owed  a  mortgage  of  $1200.  ^^>  had  not  a 
-cent.  Therefore  the  Board  decided  on  a  rally. 
At  this  rally  we  had  with  us  the  Rev.  Israel 
Derricks,  of  the  Conference  of  New  York. 
On  that  day  we  raised  $168  in  cash  and  $50  in 
subscriptions.  On  another  Sabbath  later  we 
raised  $250,  Rev.  Levi  Coppin  aided  us  very 
materially  that  day.  So  that  at  last  we  were 
able  to  i)ay  in  cash  $468  of  the  $500  which  we 
had  expected  to  borrow.  The  School  Board  at 
Cape  May  applied  to  me  for  two  teachers  to  fill 
vacancies  in  public  school.  I  recommended  Miss 
Gertie  Pierce,  of  Trenton,  X.  J.,  and  ]\Iiss  Fannie 
\\'orthington,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  They  were 
accepted  and  given  positions.  Our  church  at  this 
place  supplied  two  of  the  school  teachers,  this 
year,  for  the  teaching  of  the  Colored  children. 
The  blisses  Gertie  Pierce  and  Fannie  ^^'orth- 
ington  were  the  young  ladies.  Through  the 
spiritual  activity  of  the  members  we  had  a  s])len- 
did  revival  during  the  year  which  resulted  in 
forty  members  being  added  to  the  church,  and  in 
all  62  members.  We  installed  a  pipe  organ  also. 
I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  members  of  this  church 
were  in  dead  earnest.  So  I  had  no  trouble 
with  mud-slingers  and  evil  doers.  How  much 
time  of  a  pastor  is  frequently  taken  up  in  fight- 
ing against  the  Devil  who  is  incarnated  in  some 
of  the  members  of  the  church  ! 


BISHOP  HENRY  M.  TURNER 

Who  appointed  me  Presiding  Elder 


MY   MINISTERIAL   LIFE 


The  next  Conference  met  at  Morristown,  X.  J. 
It  was  a  great  delight  to  return  and  meet  my 
old  friends  and  co-laborers.  The  reports  of  this 
Conference  showed  a  steady  growth  and  ad- 
vancement along  all  lines. 

I  am  often  reminded  of  the  courage  of  Bishop 
Allen,  who,  when  he  and  his  friends  were  de- 
clared a  nuisance  in  the  White  church  and  while 
on  their  knees  in  prayers  were  taken  hold  of, 
and  ordered  to  the  back  part  of  the  cliurch,  went 
out  and  organized  the  A.  AI.  E.  Denomination. 
God  went  out  with  him  as  results  have  shown. 
And  on  account  of  this  most  un-Christian  treat- 
ment which  the  founder  of  our  church  received, 
I  have  given  my  life  with  redoubled  zeal  to  its 
establishment  in  this  land.  Our  church  has  stood 
for  an  independence  which  has  been  an  uplifting 
power  in  the  Race.  While  in  some  cases  this 
may  have  been  carried  too  far  by  unwise  per- 
sons, yet  on  the  whole  no  one  can  gainsay  that 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church  has  been  a  Divinely  ap- 
pointed agency  in  the  life  and  labors  of  the 
Negro  Race  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

At  this  Conference  I  w^as  made  a  Presiding 
Elder  of  the  Trenton  District  by  Bishop  H.  M. 
Turner,  D.D.  I  moved  my  family  to  Philadel-^ 
phia,  Pa.  With  the  aid  of  my  friends,  my  family 
was  pleasantl}^  domiciled  in  Philadelphia  and  I 
started  on  my  first  rounds  as  a  P.  E.     This  was 


ri'S  OUT  OF  THE   BRIAKS 

the  most  difficult  part  of  iiiy  ministerial  life.  I 
found  that  there  was  no  church  in  the  N.  J. 
Conference  that  wanted  to  see  the  presiding- 
elder.  They  looked  upon  him  as  an  unneces- 
sar}-  part  of  church  machinery.  They  consider- 
ed him  as  a  dependent  on  tlieir  gifts  and  that 
ever}'  time  that  he  came  it  meant  "more  monev, 
more  money."  Aly  first  quarterly  meeting  was 
tn  liave  heen  held  at  the  church  at  ]\It.  Holly 
1)ut  1  found  that  the  pastor  was  not  ready 
to  hold  the  meeting,  so  it  was  postponed.  I 
went  to  another  place  and  the  pastor  told  me 
that  "things  were  very  unfavorahle  there."  The 
result  of  my  iirst  round  was  that  when  I  came 
hack  to  Camden,  I  had  to  borrow  ten  dollars.  I 
attended  during  this  year  the  General  Conference 
which  met  in  the  Mother  Bethel  Church,  Phila- 
delphia. I  witnessed  the  ordination  of  Revs. 
r>.  F.  Lee,  ^L  B.  Salter  and  James  A.  Handy. 
to  the  Bishopric.  The  Conference  created  a  great 
deal  of  enthusiasm  for  the  connection.  I  re- 
turned to  my  work  with  the  determination  that 
I  would  do  more  for  the  Lord  than  I  had  ever 
done  before.  I  closed  my  Conference  year  with 
reasonable  success.  I  received  as  a  salary  $680 
and  $57  for  for  traveling  expenses.  But  I  be- 
lieve that  I  succeeded  in  convincing  the  people 
that  the  presiding  elder  may  be  of  great  assist- 
ance  to  the   local   church   in   doing  its   work  in 


MV   MINISTKKIAl.  LIFE  1  2^« 


that  the  minister  is  often  not  able  to  cope  with 
thinii^s  as  they  exist. 

My    report   at   the   Conference   which   met   at 
Princeton.  X.  J.,  was  about  as  follows:    Trenton 
|)astorate,    new    church    1)uilt    and    59    converts ; 
new    churcli     Duilt    at    Trenton    Mission;    new 
church  at  Jordantown :  mortgage  burned  at  Uor- 
dentown :    church    hnished    at    Jamesburgh :    the 
other   work   was   the   routine   work  of   the  pre- 
siding  elder.      I   was   again   appointed  presiding 
elder  of  the  same  district.     During  this  year  I 
had  my  daughter,   Ada,   with  me,  having  come 
North   and  In-ought  her  husband,  Albert  A.   B. 
Cooper.     Bishop  Turner  gave  my  son-in-law  an 
appointment    at    Bethel,    South    Camden,    which 
pleased   us   all   very  much.     My  wife  and  chil- 
dren not  being  well  pleased  with  their  residence 
in  Philadelphia,  I  moved  them  to  our  own  house 
in  Camden.     During  this  year  as  presiding  elder 
I  took  up  a  campaign  against  worldliness  in  the 
church.      I    found   that   our   young  people   were 
drifting  off  to  places  of  amusement,  such  as  the- 
atres, i)arks,  etc.     This  work  was  carried  on  by 
the  pastors  in  my  district  and  I  am  glad  to  say 
that  there  was  a  great  change  for  the  better.     I 
do  not  think  that  our  young  people  are  malicious 
or  W'ilful  in  such  matters,  but  that  it  is  largely 
on  account,  of    the   indift'erence  on   the   part  of 
their  pastors.     It  is  not  enough  to  go  into  the 


1-^0  OUT  OP  THK   BRIARS 

pulpit  and  enter  into  a  tirade  of  denunciation  and 
scolding- ;  this  will  do  more  barm  than  good ;  but 
reason'  must  be  employed.  The  world  and  the 
church  are  at  enmity,  the}-  never  have  been  and 
never  can  be  friends  until  the  world,  as  an  in- 
dividual, has  been  saved  by  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ.'  As  long-  as  this  relation  of  hostility 
exists  between  the  world  and  the  church,  mem- 
bers of  the  church  cannot  be  friendly  to  ]x>th. 
They  cannot  be  followers  of  the  world  and  its 
ways  and  at  the  same  time  consistent  members 
of  thie  church. 

At  the  Xewark  Conference,  I  was  quite  sick, 
but  able  to  get  through  the  work.  ^ly  reports 
as  presiding  elder  during  this  year  were  very 
satisfactory.  I  w-as  given  an  appointment  as  a 
pastor  at  this  Conference  by  Bishop  B,  T.  Tan-' 
ner,  my  station  was  South  A\'oodbury. 

Sick  as  I  Vv^as,  I  was  determined  to  attend  the 
General  Conference  which  met  at  Wilmington, 
X\  C.  The  trip  was  not  a  very  pleasant  one 
for  nib  although  everything  had  been  done  to 
make  it  pleasant.  We  arrived  at  Richmond, 
\2l.,  and  stopped  twenty  minutes  for  a  meal.  I 
was  carried  into  the  dining  room  and  seated  with 
the  brethren.  I  was  impressed  there  with  the 
fact  that  the  White  people  are  not  going  to  al- 
low anything  that  has  the  semblance  of  social 
equality.    As  soon  as  we  Avere  seated  a  folding 


MV    MINISTKIUAL    \AFK  131 

screen  was  ])laee(l  about  our  little  coni])any  so 
as  to  cut  us  off  from  the  White  people  in  tiie 
(lining-  room.      Ihis  was   segregation  in  earnest. 

I  enjoyed  the  meeting-  of  the  General  Con- 
ference very  much.  I  was  under  the  care  of  a 
physician  and  able  to  attend  each  day's  session 
of  the  long-  meeting.  I  was  delighted  to  be  with 
]\lr.  Joseph  Sampson,  my  boyhood  friend  and  as- 
sociate. He  was  Registrar  of  Deeds.  I  was 
rejoiced  when  I  learned  from  him  of  the  mental 
improvement  he  had  made.  There  were  over 
six  hundred  ministers  and  lay-delegates  in  at- 
tendance. They  represented  the  strong  element 
of  the  church.  There  were  theologians  and 
scholars,  men  skilled  in  the  tactics  of  Christian 
warfare.  I  rejoiced  that  God  has  such  gather- 
ings as  this  to  work  and  plan  for  the  general 
uplifting  of  my  people.  As  long  as  there  are 
men  who  have  determined  that  right  shall  pre- 
vail and  that  the  Gospel  shall  leaven  the  entire 
hut-nan  race,  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  tinal  issue. 
For  we  know  what  God's  will  is  and  that  this 
w411  must  be  carried  out  by  His  loyal  children. 

After  my  return  home  I  was  sick  for  about  two 
weeks  but  was  able  to  take  up  the  work  at  South 
Woodbury.  The  first  thing  we  did  as  pastor 
and  people  was  to  plan  for  a  new  church  build- 
ing, the  old  one  being  in  a  dilapidated  condition. 


132  OUT  OF  TFIE  lUirAltS 

It  took  quite  a  while  to  get  the  people  in  the 
notion  of  building,  but  we  adopted  our  plans  and 
began  to  work,  1  found  a  great  many  splendid 
workers  in  this  churcli.  without  whom  I  would 
have  labored  in  vain.  I  was  at  this  place  for 
three  years  and  when  I  left,  the  members  were 
worshipping  in  a  hue  brick  church.  I  had  suc- 
ceeded in  paying  off  a  part  of  the  debt,  and  had 
received  into  the  membership  of  the  church  about 
thirty-five  members. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Conference  I  was 
sent  to  the  station  of  Burlington,  X.  J.  I  spent 
a  most  pleasant  and  profitable  year  with  these 
dear  people.  They  did  all  in  their  power  to 
make  my  life  a  pleasure  to  myself  and  family. 
I  left  this  work  with  the  best  wishes  of  the 
members  of  the  church.  I  left  with  the  con- 
viction too  tliat  they  were  a  noble  band  of  the 
Lord's  workers  and  that  the  work  would  be  in 
the  hands  of  men  and  women  who  would  not  let 
it  lag  for  the  w^ant  of  untiring,  energetic  workers. 

In  1899  I  was  assigned  by  Bishop  A.  Grant 
to  Hossanah  A.  M.  E.  Church,  East  Camden, 
N.  J.  I  lal3ored  here  until  1901,  having*  re- 
organized the  Sunday  School  and  paid  something 
on  the  church  debt  and  added  man\'  members  to 
the  membership  of  the  church. 

Beverly  was  my  next  charge.  Here  I  built  a 
new  church.     I   found  that  manv  of  the  White 


MY  ^[INrsTKKIAT.    LIFE  13:^ 

people  of  this  community  were  in  sympathy  with 
our  work.  They  contributed  of  their  money  and 
did  what  they  could  spiritually  for  the  upbuilding 
of  our  work.  A  lady  from  Edgewater  Park  gave 
me  six  hundred  dollars  for  the  building  of  the 
church  and  a  nice  little  sum  for  the  pastor.  She 
was  ]\Irs.  Taylor.  The  Presbyterian  minister 
at  this  place  helped  me  a  great  deal  in  my  work. 
I  can  surely  say  that  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
was  with  us  and  like  David,  exclaim,  "Whom 
have  I  in  Heaven  but  Thee  and  there  is  none  in 
all  the  earth,  my  soul  would  desire,  beside  Thee." 

Sad,  sad,  are  the  recollections  of  the  years 
from  1899  to  1904.  I  was  taxed  to  my  utmost 
for  the  enlargement  of  the  Kingdom  of  Grace  in 
my  attempts  to  keep  the  young  men  and  women 
from  the  sharks  or  pirates,  who  would  have  drag- 
ged them  dowm  to  hell.  Their  great  sin  was 
that  of  Sabbath  breaking.  This  led  them  to 
licentious  living  and  almost  every  other  crime  of 
immorality.  At  the  same  time  the  hand  of 
affliction  was  laid  heavily  upon  me.  And  had 
it  not  been  for  the  grace  of  God  I  should  have 
sunken  beneath  the  waves  of  affliction. 

]\Iy  daughter,  Ada  Augusta  Xewton  Cooper, 
the  wife  of  Rev.  A.  B.  Cooper,  died  September 
i8th,  1899. .  She  was  thirty-eight  years  old.  She 
was  a  devoted,  loving  daughter  and  faithful 
wife.     She  passed  away  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  where 


l.;4  OUT  OF  Tlib:    Bl{IAIiS 

she  was  engaged  in  her  Christian  activities.  She 
was  a  consecrated  worker,  a  proficient  teacher, 
authoress,  and  a  most  valuable  assistant  to  me 
for  many  years.  She  knew  as  well  as  I  that  my 
education  was  sadly  deficient,  that  I  had  come 
out  of  the  briars  of  slavery  and  all  its  curses, 
and  in  a  ver}^  practical  manner,  she  was  my 
education.  For  I  had  spared  no  means  to  have 
her  thoroughly  educated.  And  always  after- 
ward she  was  conscious  of  the  advantages  that 
I  had  given  her  and  was  constantly  trying  to 
pay  off  this  great  debt  of  gratitude.  But  the 
time  came  when  the  Lord  called  her  to  a  higher 
service.  He  had  need  of  her  in  another  part  of 
His  Kingdom  and  called  her  away.  It  is  indeed 
one  of  the  heavy  crosses  that  we  are  called  upon 
to  bear,  wdien  the  Lord  calls  away  from  us  the 
children  whom  He  has  given  us.  Only  those 
parents  who  have  passed  through  these  said  af- 
flictions know  anything  of  the  pains  and  suffer- 
ing. I  cried  out,  "Oh.  Lord,  I  sink  into  the  deep 
mire  where  no  solid  foundation  is  found.  I  have 
come  into  the  deep  waters  where  the  floods  over- 
flow^ me.  Save  me,  O,  God,  for  the  waters  are 
overflowing  my  soul." 

On  December  .3.  1902,  my  devoted  and  loving 
Son  passed  away.  He  had  lived  a  consecrated 
Christian  life.  He  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years.     He  had  taken  a  thorough  course  of 


MV    MfNiSTKKlAL    1,1  Tl-:  l:t'> 

training  at  Lincoln  University.  Pa.,  and  had  en- 
tered the  ministry  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Denomina- 
tion. He  united  with  the  Conference  at  Atlantic 
City  and  had  been  assigned  to  the  charge  at 
Sea  Bright,  N.  J.,  by  Bishop  A.  Grant.  He  was 
a  loving-  son,  fine  scholar,  strong  preacher,  and 
was  begining  life  with  all  the  prospects  of  a 
^reat  usefulness.  But  the  frost  of  death  rested 
on  him  and  he  went  to  sleep  from  the  labors  of 
the  earth.  But  we  are  sure  that  he  awakened 
in  that  bright  and  happy  land  where  there  is 
no  death  and  that  now  he  is  engaged  in  a  much 
larger  and  better  service  than  any  that  he  could 
have  rendered  here  below.  I  shall  see  him  again. 
We  will  soon  meet  to  .part  no  more.  We  will 
soon  talk  together  again  and  thank  God,  with  the 
assurance,  that  father  and  son  will  never  be 
parted. 

On  February  8,  1904.  my  dear  mother  w^as 
called  to  the  other  home.  This  was  the  woman 
who  had  done  more  for  me  than  all  on  the 
earth  besides.  She  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-two 
years.  This,  added  to  my  other  afflictions  and 
to  the  weight  of  my  la1x)rs,  seemed  more  than  I 
could  stand.  I  had  never  realized  what  it  wa- 
to  be  without  a  mother.  Although  at  the  age 
of  sixty  I  was  still  a  son.  I  had  never  for- 
gotten that  the  law  of  my  life  was  that  of  obe- 
dience.   That  it  was  mv  dutv  to  honor  my  father 


186  OUT  OF  THP:  BRIAR8 


and  my  mother.  So  that  my  years  had  nothing 
to  do  with  the  intensity  of  my  hHal  love  and  de- 
votion. I  shall  never  forget  her  looks  when 
dying,  with  her  eyes  fixed  on  me,  she  said,  "Do 
the  work  of  the  ministry  as  becomes  a  minister 
of  the  -Lord  Jesus.  See  to  it.  that  no  disgrace 
is  brought  on  the  cause  which  you  represent  by 
your  unworthiness.''  To  my  brother  Henry  she 
said,  "My  work  is  done.  Neither  of  you  can 
do  me  any  good.  Be  earnest  and  true  to  your 
trust,  and  meet  me  in  the  morning  where  parting 
is  no  more."     Then  she  sans:  with  us : 


'fc> 


"Guide  me,  O  Thou  Great  Jehovah, 
Pilgrim  through  this  barren  land ; 

I  am  weak  but  Thou  art  mighty, 
Hold  me  with  Thy  powerful  hand. 

Bread  of  Heaven ! 

Feed  me  till  I  want  no  more." 

"When  I  tread  the  verge  of  Jordan, 

Bid  my  anxious  fears  subside. 
Death  of  death  and  Hell's  destruction, — 

Land  me  safe  on  Canaan's  side. 
Songs  of  Praises, 

I  will  give  Thee  evermore." 

Then  she  left  us.  And  from  that  day  until 
the  day  when  I  promised  to  meet  her,  I  will  be 
lonely  without  her. 

On  September  29,  1905,  my  youngest  and 
last  daughter  fell  asleep  in  the  arms  of  Jesus.  On 
the  morning  she  left  us  I  came  to  her  bedside. 


MY   MIXISTEKIAL  LIFK  V^7 

j\Irs.  Jennie  Wise  Johnston,  wife  of  the  edi- 
tor, Dr.  H.  T.  Johnson,  was  sitting  by  her 
bedside  holding  her  hand.  She  w^as  rubbing  her 
hands  as  if  she  could  rub  the  warmth  of  life  into 
them.  The  poor  child  cried  out,  'Tapa,  Oh, 
papa !"  These  were  her  last  words,  she  could 
sav  no  more.  Oh  those  words,  how  they  have 
rung  in  my  ears  and  how  the  echoes  have  come  to 
me  out  of  eternity,  "Papa,  Oh,  papa  !"  Her  mother 
had  stepped  into  another  room  to  weep.  I  could 
not  stand  to  see  her  die.  The  cares  and  toils 
and  sacrifices  which  I  had  made  for  her,  the 
love  that  had  bound  her  to  me,  the  joys  which 
she  had  brought  into  my  life, — and  now  that 
Grim  Death  should  be  choking  her — was  more 
than  I  could  bear.  I  bowed  my  head  and  prayed 
and  took  the  train  for  my  appointment  in  Jersey 
City.  When  I  arrived  I  was  handed  a  telegram 
announcing  that  she  had  left  us.  I  took  the 
next  train  and  came  home.  This  daughter  at 
the  early  age  of  twelve  years,  like  my  other 
children,  had  become  a  devoted  Christian.  Her 
early  piety  was  marked  and  deep.  She  lived 
until  she  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  She 
had  been  a  teacher  in  the  public  school,  Mt. 
Vernon,  St.,  Camden,  for  seven  years,  a  skilled 
musician  and  a  competent  Sunday  School  worker. 
In  passing  .through  all  these  afflictions,  I 
learned  that  it  was  a  great  deal  easier  for  one 


18S  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

to  say  what  he  would  do  under  such  circum- 
stances than  it  w'as  to  do  what  one  ought  to  do. 
I  had  often  said  to  many  under  the  hand  of 
affliction : 

"Cast  thy  hnrden  on  the  Lord,  for  He  careth 
for  you." 

I  had  never  learned  what  that  little  word, 
"cast"  meant.  I  found  that  it  was  no  easy  thing 
to  cast  my  burden  on  the  Lord.  It  was  no 
easy  thing  to  really  say,  "Thy  will  be  done,  not 
mine."  I  would  take  these  burdens  to  the  Lord, 
but  when  I  came  away  I  would  bring  them  with 
me.  Ah !  There  is  the  point,  I  would  bring  them 
away  with  me !  This  I  should  not  have  done, 
but  thank  God,  I  am  becoming  able  to  leave  my 
burdens  with  Him.  I  am  too  old  to  carry  them 
now.  And  my  dear  reader,  if  you  in  early  life 
can  leani  to  leave  your  burdens  with  the  Lord, 
you  will  have  won  the  victory  of  victories.  I 
know  that  these  dear  ones  cannot  come  to  me 
but  I  can  go  to  them  and  it  wall  not  be  long 
until  I  go. 

At  Jersey  City  I  entered  upon  my  work  with 
a  fine  body  of  workers  associated  wdth  me.  Bros. 
A.  S.  Taper,  W.  H.  Dougherty,  J.  Stokes,  Ed- 
ward Holmes ;  sisters,  Hannah  Stokes,  Mamie 
Taper,  Hattie  Dougherty,  Louisa  Holmes,  Anna 
Burk,  Annie  Dowers,  and  a  host  of  other  work- 
ers were  standing  around  me  in  this  great  field. 


MY   MINISTERIAL  LIFE  1^9 

They  did  all  that  they  could  to  make  African 
Methodism  a  strong  fort  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
and  were  bent  on  having  a  building  that  would 
be  an  honor  to  the  denomination. 

A  Mr.  Beach  became  very  much  interested  in 
the  work,  he  Avas  our  trusted  treasurer  and  gave 
of  his  own  money  and  influenced  others  to  help 
us.  I  made  my  home  with  ^Ir.  John  Smith  and 
his  wife.  They  did  a  great  deal  to  help  the 
work  along.  While  here  we  paid  $500  on  the 
church  debt,  and  left  the  lumber  and  brick  for  a 
new  church  on  the  lot  which  belonged  to  the 
church  and  added  over  one  lumdred  members  to 
the  church. 

On  April  12,  1905.  I  met  the  thirty-third  ses- 
sion of  the  New  Jersey  Conference  at  the  St. 
James  A.  M.  E.  Church.  Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 
Rev.  B.  W.  Arnett,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  the  pre- 
siding bishop 

The  report  of  the  presiding  elders  was  indeed 
very  encouraging,  showing  that  great  revivals 
had  been  in  the  districts  of  the  several  presiding 
elders,  and  that  the  church  in  all  its  departments 
of  labor  and  enterprise  had  made  encouraging  ad- 
vancement. This  Conference  as  a  great  spiritual 
revival.  There  was  great  rejoicing  on'  every 
hand.  The  secretaries  brought  in  fine  reports  of 
their  departments  of  work.  We  were  made  tn 
feel  that  the  church  was  getting  back  on  the  soli<i 


140  OUT  OP  THK   BRIARS 

ground  of  ^Methodism,,  the  Old  Time  Religion 
which  our  fadiers  enjoyed.  I  sometimes  think 
that  in  our  church  work  we  have  so  much  ma- 
chinery and  so  many  schemes  and  plans,  and  are 
so  bent  on  the  money  or  material  side  of  the 
church  and  its  life,  that  we  have  lost  our  spirit- 
ual power.  \\>  need  a  great  change  in  this  re- 
spect. A\'e  must  get  back  to  the  thought  that 
God  is  our  all  in  all  and  that  they  labor  in  vain 
who  would  build  the  house  unless  the  Lord  Him- 
self build  it. 

During  this  meeting  of  the  Conference  some 
Taluable  statistics  were  -  submitted  on  the  Race 
Avhich  I  submit  for  careful  study.  Of  course 
these  w^ill  soon  be  supplanted  by  the  U.  S.  Census 
Report,  but  many  will  not  have  access  to  this 
report,  so  I  give  them  here :  The  Negro  popu- 
lation of  the  U.  S.  in  1900  was  9.204,531 ;  seventy 
per  cent,  work  on  746,000  farms;  21,000  car- 
penters ;  20,000  barbers,  and  one-fourth  as  many 
doctors;  10,000  ordained  preachers;  15,000  ma- 
sons; 12.000  dress  makers;  10,000  engineers; 
5,000  shoemakers;  1,000  lawyers;  4,000  musi- 
cians; 2,000  actors;  since  1890  the  illiteracy  of 
the  race  has  been  reduced  from  57  per  cent,  to 
44.5  per  cent.  These  reports  mentioned  Mr. 
Roosevelt  as  standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  with 
the  immortal  Lincoln  as  the  friend  of  the  Race. 

These  facts  and  figures  are  a  great  inspiration 


MY   MINISTKKIAL   LIP^K  HI 

to  my  people  and  I  hope  that  they  will  be  in- 
spired to  take  fresh  courage  and  go  ahead  in 
the  great  work  and  battle  of  life.  ]\Iy  only  pur- 
pose in  putting  into  print  the  record  of  my  own 
life  is  to  encourage  the  young  men  and  women 
to  do  something  more  to  help  themselves. 

The  doors  of  great  schools  are  now  open  to 
the  young  men  of  the  Race  and  if  they  do  not 
iiiiprove  their  opportunities,  it  is  their  own  fauU 
and  their  own  loss.  The  time  has  come  when 
the  people  should  not  tolerate  ignorance  and 
its  shames  in  any  of  the  professions.  From  a 
personal  acquaintance,  I  can  most  heartily  recom- 
mend three  great  men  who  will  do  all  in  their 
power  for  the  young  Colored  men  of  this  coun- 
try— Rev.  Isaac  X.  Rendall,  D.D.,  of  Lincoln 
University,  Rev.  Dr.  Scarbourough,  of  W'ilber- 
force  University,  Ohio,  and  Rev.  Samuel  G. 
Miller,  D.D.,  of  the  Bible  College,  of  Philadel- 
l)hia,  Pa.  These  men  have  made  their  reputa- 
tion and  are  among  the  great  instructors  of  the 
Race  and  they  stand  in  readiness  to  do  what 
they  can  for  the  young  people  of  my  Race.  The 
three  men  mentioned  stand  for  the  higher  edu- 
cation of  the  people.  They  believe  that  what  is 
good  for  the  White  man  is  equally  good  for  the 
Black  man.  On  the  other  hand,  if  young  men 
and  women  .are  seeking  to  be  educated  along 
practical  lines.     I  recommend  them  to  the  great 


142  <>rT  OF  THE    BRIAKS 

institution  at  Tuskegee,  Ala..  Dr.  Booker  T. 
Washington's  school.  With  these  great  men  and 
the  advantages  which  have  been  supplied  by 
them,  no  young  person  can  have  an  excuse  for 
not  rising  to  a  high  degree  of  scholarship  and 
efficiency  in  any  line  of  work. 

At  the  Conference  at  Long  Branch  I  was  ap- 
pointed at  Bordentown,  X.  J.  I  had  a  pleasant 
reception  here.  Rev.  J.  H.  ^Morgan  Avas  the  re- 
tiring pastor.  He  called  on  me  and  gave  me 
some  valuable  advice  as  to  the  work.  I  found 
that  the  church  was  divided  by  factions,  but 
under  God's  blessing  these  were  united  and  all 
worked  together  in  perfect  harmony.  We  paint- 
ed and  paid  for  the  parsonage  and  considerable 
was  paid  on  the  church  debt.  Dr.  Roundtree, 
the  Presiding  Elder  of  this  district,  was  of  great 
assistance  to  me  in  my  work. 

Prof.  James  Gregory,  principal  of  the  Indus- 
trial School  at  this  place,  an  institution  supported 
by  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  was  also  a  very 
valuable  aid  in  the  work  ot  the  church.  He 
and  his  students  were  always  present  at  the 
Sunday  services  and  helped  very  materially  in 
all  the  work  of  the  church. 

Wlien  I  w^ent  from  Jersey  City  to  this  place, 
I  was  in  poor  health  and  this  made  the  work 
much  more  difficult.  At  last  I  was  taken  to  the 
hospital  and  was  there  three  months.     It  was  a 


REV*  J*  H.  MORGAN 

Former  Secretary 

of  the 

New^  Jersey  Annual  Conference 


MY  MINISTERIAL  LIFE  14H 


fielit  between  the  forces  of  life  and  the  forces 
of  death,  but  it  was  God's  will  that  I  should  stay 
a  while  longer  on  the  earth  to  do  His  work,  so  I 
won  out  in  the  fight  with  death.  But  I  am  glad 
to  recount  this  experience ;  after  a  close  examina- 
tion of  myself,  I  found  that  I  was  ready  to  die, 
that  I  was  really  relying  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  for  my  salvation  and  that  His  will  was 
indeed  my  will.  This  was  a  great  consolation. 
In  health  we  are  sometimes  not  able  to  diagnose 
our  spiritual  condition,  but  in  extreme  sickness, 
when  we  are  brought  near  to  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  we  are  able  to  make  note  of 
our  real  spiritual  state  or  condition  and  we  are 
able  to  do  so,  with  the  knowledge  that  we  may 
soon  feel  the  pangs  of  death. 

During  my  stay  in  the  hospital  my  friends 
were  exceedingly  good  to  me  and  my  church  at 
Bordentown  continued  my  salary.  Surely  God 
has  blessed  me  with  tried  and  true  friends. 

The  best  friend  I  had  in  all  this  affliction  was 
my  dear  wife,  Lulu.  She  was  with  me  con- 
stantly. She  seemed  to  suffer  with  me  all  my 
sufifering.  How  often  I  have  seen  in  her  face 
the  sympathy  and  love  that  would  have  robbed 
me  of  every  pain,  but  she  could  not.  I  cried  out 
within  myself,  "Glory  and  honor  to  such  a  wife  I" 
The  operation  was  a  successful  one  in  the  sense 
that  in  this  case  the  patient  did  not  die.    In  three 


144  OUT  OF  TIIF.   lUUARS 

months  to  the  day  from  the  time  that  I  left  my 
puhjMt  I  was  again,  in  the  pulpit  ready  to  do 
valiant  service  for  God  and  my  people. 

The  next  Conference  met  at  Orange,  N.  J., 
April  25th,  1907.  Bishop  ^^'esley  J.  Gaines,  pre- 
sided. I  was  sent  to  the  charge  at  Haddonfield, 
N.  J.  I  was  at  this  church  two  years.  A  good 
work  was  done.  From  this  church  I  was  sta- 
tioned at  the  church  at  ]\It.  Holly,  X,  J.  (The 
Mt.  Moriah  A.  'M.  E.  Church).  We  met  a  most 
pleasant  and  active  band  of  workers  at  this  place 
and  did  a  good  work  for  the  Lord. 

At  the  Conference  which  met  at  Orange  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  hearing  the  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Mil- 
ler, D.B..  President  of  the  Bible  Educational  As- 
sociation, speak  on  the  necessity  of  an  educated 
ministry.  I  was  deeply  impressed  with  his  re- 
marks and  when  he  made  it  known  that  he  was 
at  the  head  of  an  institution  in  Philadelphia 
where  ministers  regardless  of  their  intellectual 
condition  would  be  received  and  aided  along  edu- 
cational lines,  I  determined  that  I  would  visit  the 
school  and  see  what  they  were  doing. 

Xot  long  afterward  I  went  to  the  school  and 
found  Dr.  ^Miller  at  his  post.  I  told  him  that 
I  was  aljout  seventy  years  old,  that  I  did  not 
feel  that  it  was  worth  while  for  me  to  under- 
take any  course  of  study  and  that  if  I  did  I  feared 
tliat  I  could  not  keep  ])ace  with  the  class.     He 


MV    MINISTKKIAL    \AFi:  Ho 

replied  to  nic  that  age  had  nothing-  to  do  with  a 
man's  abihty  to  study  if  he  would  apply  himself 
— that  the  mind  never  grew  old,  that  it  was  im- 
mortal, and  that  the  only  thing  for  me  to  do 
was  to  enter  the  school  and  get  dowm  to  hard 
work.  I  was  both  amused  and  astonished  at  his 
advice.  But  I  entered  the  school  and  took  up 
those  difficult  studies,  New  Testament  Greek. 
Hebrew,  Psychology,  and  put  in  several  hours 
a  day  on  them.  I  was  astonished  at  my  suc- 
cess. I  found  that  my  memory  came  back  to 
me  and  that  I  was  really  able  to  perform  feats 
of  memory.  I  found  that  it  became  easier  for 
me  to  acquire  knowledge  as  I  went  along.  I 
remained  in  the  college  three  years,  and  am  now- 
able  to  read  the  Bible  in  its  original  tongues  and 
have  taken  the  Theological  course.  And  now  in 
mv  seventy-third  year,  I  have  done  what  I 
would  loved  to  have  done  fifty  years  ago.  I  have 
educated  myself.  How  strange  the  Providence 
of  God !  The  Southern  people  enslaved  my  peo- 
ple and  caused  me  a  great  deal  of  my  suffering, 
but  at  the  end  or  ahiiost  at  the  end  of  my  earthly 
journey,  I  met  this  godly  Southern  man,  Dr.  Mil- 
ler, who  has  made  a  new  man  out  of  me  along 
educational  lines.  Thank  God,  He  has  His  own 
children  among  the  Southern  people  as  well  as 
in  the  Xorth.  And  I  believe  that  when  the 
Southern   people   realize   what   the   Xegro   is   to 


146  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

them  as  well  as  what  he  has  been,  that  they  will 
do  wonders  for  the  Race.  At  this  very  waiting, 
the  white  people  of  the  State  of  South  Carohna 
are  vying  with  the  White  people  of  North  Caro- 
lina, as  to  which  state  has  the  best  and  most 
progressive  class  of  Colored  people.  I  thank 
God  that  I  have  gotten  out  of  the  briars. 

I  am  greatly  surprised  that  I  have  been  able  to 
fill  the  posts  of  duty  and  honor  which  have  been 
assigned  me  in  my  life.  I  have  done  what  I 
could  and  the  best  I  could.  On  the  battle  field, 
as  chaplain  in  the  state  legislature,  as  pastor,  as 
presiding  elder,  as  a  high  official  in  Fraternal 
Orders,  as  an  officer  in  the  Civil  War,  as  son, 
husband,  father  and  friend.  I  have  tried  to  be 
faithful,  and  I  can  truly  repeat  the  words  of  dy- 
ing King  Edward,  "I  tried  to  do  my  duty." 


t^ 


SAMUEL  G,  MILLER,  D.D. 

My  Instructor  in  Hebrew,  New  Testament  Greek,  Theology,  etc., 
Bible  College,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


liat  3t  3s  mih  Hhat 
3t  ^houlti  le 


Olltf  ffiliurrli;  Wital  3t  3b  mh  fflltat 
3t  g>li0ulii  If. 


I  am  aware  of  the  fact  that  in  writing  my 
views  of  the  Church  as  it  is  and  as  it  should  be, 
that  I  may  and  doubtlessly  will,  run  counter  to 
the  views  of  some  of  my  brethren,  but  I  do  not 
find  that  this  is  a  vaUd  reason  for  my  not  ex- 
pressing my  views  on  such  an  important  subject. 
I  have  served  the  Church  quite  a  number  of  years, 
over  forty  years,  having  given  her  the  best  part  of 
my  life,  and  now  that  I  am  about  to  conclude  my 
labors  for  her,  I  feel  that  it  is  my  duty  to  say 
those  things  which  in  my  judgment  will  be  for 
lier  highest  welfare  and  the  glory  of  her  Head, 
Jesus  Christ. 

I.  The  Church  as  it  is.  The  study  of  present 
church  life  is  a  most  intricate  one.  We  find  that 
the  Church  is  hopelessly  divided,  that  is,  it  seems 
hopelessly  divided.  "A  house  divided  against 
itself  cannot  stand."  Let  it  be  understood  that 
I  am  not  talking  or  waiting  about  any  of  these 
divisions,  or  denominations,  I  am  speaking  of 
that  body  of  believers  of  every  denomination 
or  sect,  who  belong  to  our  Christ.    They  may  be 

149 


loO  OUT  OP"  THE  BRIARS 

Protestants  or  Roman  Catholics;  they  may  be 
Methodists,  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Episcopal- 
ians or  Quakers.  No  one  denomination  can  lay 
any  claim  to  a  monopoly  of  religion  or  of  Christ- 
ianity, and  therefore  cannot  be  considered  alone. 

I.  The  Church  today  is  shorn  of  much  of  its 
power  by  so  many  divisions.  There  would  be 
no  objection  to  these  myriad  divisions  if  it  were 
not  for  the  fact  that  these  divisions  are  more  or 
less  arrayed  against  one  another.  If  these  divi- 
sions were  articulated  and  harmonious  like  the 
divisions  of  a  great  army,  it  would  be  a  good 
thing,  but  this  is  not  so ;  we  are  the  Church  Mili- 
tant in  a  bad  sense  as  w^ell  as  in.  a  good  sense, 
and  alas  the  bad  too  often  predominates. 

We  have  frequently  found  one  denomination 
fighting  another  denomination  on  doctrinal 
grounds ;  we  have  found  them  proselyting ;  we 
have  found  them  trying  to  occupy  the  same  terri- 
tory, and  thereby  wasting  their  strength ;  we  have 
seen  them  grow  into  bigotry  and  sectarianism 
and  live  the  life  of  strife.  The  evils  which  have 
followed  such  a  condition  have  been  an  impov- 
erished and  struggling,  yes,  dying  church ;  a 
poorly  paid  and  inefficient  ministry ;  a  life  largely 
robbed  of  its  spirituality ;  an  organization  which 
has  become  the  laughing  stock  of  the  world. 

We  have  found  individual  congregations  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  their  denominations.     All 


TIIK  CliriJCH  151 


this  is  to  be  greatly  deplored,  for  it  is  contrarv 
to  the  teachings  and  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ. 

2.  The  Church  today  has  become  poisoned  with 
politics.  Political  tricks  and  schemes,  political 
life  and  its  power,  have  gotten  into  the  church 
and  have  wrought  havoc.  We  cannot  reconcile 
this  manner  of  directing  the  life  and  work  of  the 
Church  with  the  over  ruling  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Some  of  the  great  meetings  of  our  churches,  in 
their  annual  business  sessions,  have  become  real 
worldly  political  gatherings  having  met  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  They  have  turn- 
ed the  House  of  God  into  a  den  of  politicians. 
Men  high  up  in  the  authority  and  influence  of  the 
Church,  have  subverted  this  rank  and  power  to 
their  own  selfish  purposes.  They  have  sought 
to  make  the  Church  a  stepping  stone  to  something- 
better  for  themselves  instead  of  making  them- 
selves a  stepping  stone  for  the  betterment  of  the 
Zion  of  God.  They  have  forgotten  that  thev 
came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister  ; 
not  to  be  served  with  easy  and  lucrative  positions, 
but  to  serve  in  any  sphere  however  humble. 
Money  has  been  spent  in  vast  sums  for  the  pro- 
curing of  high  positions:  life  has  been  wasted 
in  a  selfish  attempt  to  save  it;  the  Church  has  be- 
come corrupted  and  made  sinful,  thereby  driving 
the  Holy  Spirit  away  from  its  work  and  pres- 
ence.    The   Church   todav   is   more  or  less   dis- 


152  OUT  OP  THE   BRIARS 

graced  by  such  political  methods.  It  stands  de- 
pleted of  much  of  its  power.  It  is  following 
men  instead  of  God,  instead  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
The  Church  cannot  serve  two  masters. 

3.  The  Church  today  is  largely  under  the  pow- 
er of  the  god  of  iMammon.  It  has  forgotten  the 
poor  which  it  always  has  with  it.  It  has  gone  oft* 
after  the  well-to-do  and  rich  classes.  It  has 
greater  respect  for  the  man  that  comes  into  its 
doors  dressed  in  goodly  apparel  than  for  the  poor 
;man  in  his  rags. 

In  our  cities  the  Church  is  following  the  rich 
uptown.  Great  and  grand  buildings  are  standing 
idle,  and  posted  on  their  front  is  the  sign,  ''For 
Sale."  A\'hereas  the  multitudes  are  living  and 
surging  all  about  these  empty  houses  of  God. 

The  great  burden  of  the  Church  today  is  not 
getting  in  souls,  but  getting  in  dollars.  JMagnifi- 
cent  buildings  are  erected  costing  hundreds,  yes 
millions  of  dollars.  The  members  are  compelled 
to  pay  for  the  costly  structures.  Wc  forget  that 
the  groves  were  God's  first  temples.  We  forget 
that  He  was  pleased  to  live  in  a  tent  with  His 
people.  The  Church  has  gone  money-mad.  The 
struggle  of  the  pastor  is  to  get  his  salary  after 
the  great  and  increasing  expenses  of  the  Church 
have  been  met.  If  he  fails  to  accomplish  this 
herculean  task,  he  must  go.  By  this  course  the 
.masses  of  the  people  are  driven  away  from  the 


THK  CHrRCII  ir,;i 


<^"hurch.  Only  fifty  per  cent  of  the  people  of  the 
United  States  attend  the  Church,  and  only  thirty 
per  cent  are  members  of  the  Church,  and  one  of 
the  reasons,  if  not  the  greatest,  is  that  they  can- 
not afford  to  be  members  of  the  Church.  The 
call  on  the  Sabbath  Day  is  money,  moneys  money. 
I'eople  sicken  at  the  cry,  and  turn  away  in  utter 
-disgust. 

4.  There  is  a  growing  formality  in  the  Church. 
This  formality  is  seen  in  the  lives  as  well  as  the 
worship  of  the  members  of  the  Church.  Alas, 
too  many  love  the  form  of  religion^,  but  they  deny 
the  power  of  it.  Revivals  are  gotten  up,  where- 
as they  always  come  down.  Wq  have  never  been 
able  to  get  up  a  rain,  because  it  is  nature  that 
brings  it  down.  We  can  never  get  up  a  revival 
because  the  Holy  Spirit  brings  it  down,  so  that 
there  has  crept  into  the  Church,  times,  and  sea- 
sons and  plans  of  man's  making  for  revival  pur- 
poses, simply  because  the  time  has  come  for  a  re- 
vival and  for  no  other  purpose,  the  revival  is  had. 
What  good  can  come  out  of  such  attempts?  Re- 
vivals come  through  the  operation  of  great 
spiritual  laws,  and  these  laws  must  be  obeyed 
by  God's  people,  or  there  can  be  no  revival. 

The  modern  evangelist  has  done  much  to 
bring  about  a  stereotyped  condition  of  the  Church- 
He  has  his  set  methods  of  rousing  the  people ; 
-he  arranges  for  a  revival  in  a  certain  church  be- 


154  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

cause  it  suits  his  convenience,  not  looking  to  the 
special  need  of  the  church  for  such  a  service.  He 
is  often  inclined  to  depreciate  the  work  of  the 
p'astor  by  his  own  methods  and  mannerism;  he 
sets  in  to  do  a  certain  amount  of  work;  so  many 
souls  must  be  converted;  so  much  money  must 
be  raised,  and  he  is  on  hand  to  have  this  work 
done,  and  in  this  manner,  the  whole  work  of  re- 
vivals has  been  almost  entirely  discounted.  The 
work  of  the  modern  evangelist  is  unscriptural 
in  that  he  is  not  doing  it  in  the  right  place.  The 
pastorate  is  not  the  place  for  the  evangelist.  He 
should  go  to  those  waste  places  where  there  is 
no  pastor.  He.  belongs  on  the  frontier^  and  the 
pastor  who  is  wise  will  not  permit  an  evangel- 
ist to  ^ome  into  his  church,  and  do  the  W'Ork 
which  he  himself  ought  to  do,  or  some  other  pas- 
tor. 

The  Church  must  get  away  from  these  man- 
made  methods  and  plans;  these  man-set  times 
and  occasions,  and  must  look  to  the  Holy  Spirit 
for  direction  in  all  these  matters. 

I  wish  it  understood  that  I  am  pointing  out 
some  of  the  great  weaknesses  of  the  Church  to- 
day. I  have  not  forgotten  that  the  Church  in 
every  age  has  had  its  struggles;  I  have  not  for- 
gotten that  the  Church  is  founded  on  the  Rock, 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  walls  of  hell  cannot  prevail 
against   her.      I    have   not    forgotten   that   it   is 


THE  CHrilCll  lo5 


through  the  Church  that  this  lost  world  will  be 
redeemed.  I  have  not  forgotten  that  the  Church 
is  the  salt  of  the  earth,  the  light  of  the  world,  the 
bride  of  Christ. 

In  considering  what  the  Church  should  be  we 
have  but  to  go  back  to  the  Bible  in  order  to  de- 
termine this  question. 

1.  The  Church  should  be  a  body  of.  believers 
in  Christ.  I  mean  by  believers,  men  and  women 
who  are  practicing  the  teachings  of  Christ.  If 
the  life  is  not  the  result  of  the  teachings  of 
Christ  there  is  no  faith  behind  it.  If  a  man  says 
that  he  believes  in  Christ,  and  is  not  living  the 
teachings  of  the  Master,  he  is  not  a  believer. 
That  there  are  many  in  the  Church  who  are  not 
believers  is  therefore  true,  because  there  are 
many  who  are  not  practicing  the  teachings  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

2.  The  Church  should  return  to  its  great  mis- 
sion of  preaching  the  Gospel.  Almost  every- 
thing else  but  the  Gospel  is  preached.  Science, 
literature,  biography,  philosophy,  mortality,  etc., 
are  the  burden  of  the  pulpit  today.  As  a  conse- 
quence of  this  men  and  women  are  starving  to 
death  for  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  doctrines  of  great  fundamental  principles 
of  Christianity  should  be  preached.  If  a  man  is 
not  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  principles  of  his 
faith,  how  can  he  be  strong,  how  can  he  be 
useful ? 


I.i6  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

A  cry  has  gone  out  for  a  new  religion.  \\'e 
have  too  much  now  of  the  new  rehgion.  It  is  a 
faihu'e;  we  must  get  more  of  the  old  religion,  or 
give  up  the  Gospelship  to  those  who  will  be 
faithful  to  their  trust.  God  will  make  the  change 
Himself  if  Ave  do  not  make  it.  He  took  the  light 
away  from  the  Jews  because  they  were  not 
faithful  to  their  charge,  and  He  will  take  it 
away  from  us  for  the  same  reason.  What  the 
world  today  needs  is  the  Bible,  and  in  order  that 
it  may  receive  the  Bible  it  must  be  preached  in 
the  pulpit  and  in  the  pew.  The  pulpit  is  very 
weak  today  in  this  respect,  and  hence  the  pew  is 
weak.  We  have  a  weak  religion,  and  unless  we 
return  to  God's  way,  it  will  grow  weaker  still. 
This  requires  a  thorough  Bible  training  on  the 
part  of  the  preacher.  The  minister  should  know 
his  Bible,  and  then  he  should  preach  it.  It  de- 
mands great  faith  in  the  \\'ord  of  God,  and  great 
courage  to  proclaim  its  saving  truth.  A  preacher 
is  sent  out  into  the  world  to  tell  it  of  sin,  Satan, 
self  and  hell.  He  is  commissioned  to  proclaim 
salvation  from  these  things,  and  to  set  before 
the  people  an  upright,  godly  life.  He  is  author- 
ized to  command  that  men  everywhere  shall  re- 
pent of  their  sins  and  turn  to  God.  He  must 
know  the  truth  that  he  may  preach  it.  He  must 
know  the  plan  of  salvation.  He  must  be  one 
with  God  in  knowledge  and  work.     The  pulpit 


THE  (MfrRCH  lo" 


must  control  the  pew,  and  not  the  pew  the  pulpit. 

3.  The  Church  must  look  after  the  poor.    This 
is  not  being  done  today.     In  the  Church  during 
the  days  of  the  Hebrew  nation  there  were  no 
poor.     During  the  Church  in  the  early  days  of 
Christianity,  the  poor  were  well  cared  for.    There 
were  not  any  that  lacked.     The  Church  should 
be  going  out  after  the  poor  instead  of  running 
away  from  them.     Christ  was  constantly  serv- 
ing the  poor.     He  was  with  them  all  the  time. 
He  shared  their  sufferings  and  bore  their  bur- 
dens.    The  Church  to  be  true  to  Him  and  true 
to   itself    must   do   the    same   thing.      Our   very 
iudement  test  will  be  found  in  the  manner  in 
which  we  treat  the  poor,  which  are  the  repre- 
sentatives of  Christ  on  the  earth.     "I  was  hun- 
gry and  ye  gave  me  no  meat."    Read  the  twenty- 
fifth  chapter  of  Matthew  and  see  what  this  test 
is.      Suppose   that   the    Church   today   would   be 
judged  by  this  test,  where  would  it  stand? 

These  are  some  of  my  views  which  I  gladly 
put  into  this  book  hoping  and  praying  that  they 
will  become  an  inspiration  to  many  to  get  back 
to  the  Bible ;  back  to  the  old  time  religion  of  our 
fathers ;  back  to  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ.  They 
are  written  in  the  greatest  kindness  but  with  the 
greatest  earnestness.  They  are  written  in  no 
fault  finding  spirit,  but  with  the  spirit  of  love 
and  sympathy,  for  I  love  the  Church  more  than 
my  own  life. 


®ln»  Npgrn  f  rnblpm 


El\t  5Jr0r0  Jproblrm 


It  might  be  profitable  to  my  readers,  after  hav- 
ing sketched  my  Hfe  in  the  army,  to  give  some 
of  my  views  pertaining  to  my  race,  relative  to 
the  Civil  War  and  the  time  since  then. 

Much  is  being  said  and  written  on  the  so-called 
Negro  Problem.  Why  it  has  taken  this  name,  I 
have  never  been  able  to  decide.  For  when  we 
examine  into  its  intricacies,  we  find  that  it  is  the 
Wliite  Alan's  problem  also.  And  certainly  it  is 
true,  that  if  this  problem  is  ever  settled  in  this 
country  on  a  proper  basis,  it  will  be  settled  when 
the  White  and  the  Colored  people  come  together 
on  some  practical  basis  of  agreement.  There 
are  more  than  ten  millions  of  Colored  people  in 
this  country  and  they  are  here  to  stay.  They 
have  paid  at  least  a  part  of  the  debt  which 
they  owe  to  the  nation,  on  the  battlefield.  They 
have  never  shirked  their  duty  in  this  respect  and 
they  never  will.  Soldiers  during  both  the  Civil 
and  the  Spanish-American  wars,  demonstrated 
the  fact  that  they  are  patriotic  to  the  core  and 
that  on  the  battlefield  they  are  not  afraid  of  the 
belching  cannon.  They  have  done  their  duty  in 
this  regard.    And  when  we  look  into  the  history 

161 


162  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

of  the  Colored  people  since  the  Civil  War  we  are 
satisfied  that  the  progress  which  has  heen  made, 
is  a  most  satisfactory  one.  It  is  acknowledged 
by  some  of  the  leading  White  men  of  the  nation, 
that  the  progress  of  the  Xegro  Race  since  the 
Rebellion  has  been  unparalleled  in  history. 

But  that  there  is  much  to  be  done  by  my  own 
people  yet,  is  evident.  We  have  just  begun  the 
work  of  our  race.  A  race  that  is  not  over  fifty 
years  old  in  the  arts  of  civilization,  is  but  an  in- 
fant in  swaddling  clothes.  We  are  to  wait  until 
he  is  able  to  walk  and  especially  to  work.  The 
Xegro  Race  in  this  country  has  a  most  trying 
ordeal  before  it.  It  is  one  of  the  most  difficult 
of  undertakings,  to  work  out  our  destiny  in  a 
land  of  such  high  civilization  as  that  of  this 
country.  While  on  the  one  hand  it  would  seem 
an  easier  task  in  such  a  civilization,  because  of 
the  advantages  which  we  have  thrown  about  us; 
on  the  other  hand,  there  are  probably  more  dis- 
advantages. And  why?  For  the  simple  reason 
that  the  Colored  man  comes  out  of  the  past 
w^ithout  the  centuries  of  training  which  the  White 
man  has.  He  comes  out  of  the  past  without 
any  history.  He  comes  out  of  the  past  in  a 
crude  condition,  untrained  and  with  the  curse  of 
slavery  still  resting  on  him.  It  will  take  time  for 
him    to    prepare    himself    to    compete    with    the 


THE  NEGRO  PROBLEM  163 

White  man  and  compete  he  must !  The  Colored 
people  must  wake  up  to  the  fact  that  they  have 
to  pay  for  everything  that  they  get  in  this  coun- 
try. The  mystic  "mule  and  forty  acres."  promised 
by  Uncle  Sam,  has  never  been  forthcoming.  And 
this  is  but  an  indication  of  any  other  mystic  gifts 
that  we  might  dream  of  in  days  to  come.  It  will 
be  by  the  dint  of  hard  labor,  that  the  Colored  man 
will  rise  and  make  his  mark.  There  are  many 
features  of  this  situation  which  we  will  be  com- 
pelled to  look  into  and  many  conditions  wdiich 
we  must  face,  as  men. 

I  have  often  asked  myself  the  question,  w'hy 
is  it  that  on  our  railroads  and  street  car  tracks, 
there  is  such  a  lack  of  our  working  men?  We 
see  thousands  upon  thousands  of  w^hite  men, 
ehieflv  foreig^ners.  There  was  a  time  when  the 
larger  portion  of  railroad  laborers  was  Colored 
men.  There  are  two  or  three  reasons  for  this 
which  are  obvious.  One  is  that  the  foreigner 
will  work  for  a  cheaper  wage  and  will  live  on  less 
than  the  Colored  man.  He  is  willing  to  under- 
go certain  hardships  and  privations  that  the  Col- 
ored man  does  not  undergo.  I  am  not  willing 
to  concede  that  he  is  a  better  workman  than  the 
Colored  man.  for  the  Colored  man  has  proven 
his  ability  as  a  laborer  along  every  line  of  work. 
Another  reason  is  that  the  Wliite  man  mav  be 


164  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

more  reliable.  He  can  be  depended  on  with 
more  certainty.  And  at  this  point  let  me  say  that 
if  the  Colored  race  is  ever  to  take  its  place  in 
the  mart  of  trade,  it  must  become  more  reliable. 
Promises  must  be  kept.  When  a  man  agrees 
to  work  for  six  days  in  the  week,  for  a  certain 
number  of  weeks,  he  must  stay  his  time  out  and 
do  his  work.  It  is  not  a  question  of  his  disliking 
the  work  or  the  employer,  but  the  question  of  his 
fidelity  to  his  trust.  For  this  reason,  that  the 
Colored  man  is  not  faithful  to  his  promises,  he 
has  been  discounted  in  the  field  of  manual  labor. 
The  more  important  the  job  of  the  employer,  the 
more  important  the  fidelity  of  the  employee.  Xo 
employer  wishes  to  undertake  an  extensive  and 
costly  piece  of  work  and  be  dependent  on  a 
class  of  labor  that  may  fail  him  at  the  place 
where  he  needs  steady,  persistent  work.  So  he 
will,  in  making  his  choice  select  that  class  of 
labor  that  will  stick  to  him  through  thick  and 
thin.  Fidelity  to  a  trust  is  one  of  the  essentials 
of  man  and  womanhood  that  must  be  cultivated 
among  my  people.  If  I  am  correctly  informed, 
I  understand  that  in  our  large  cities,  our  girls 
are  not  holding  their  own  as  house  servants. 
They  are  being  set  aside  for  the  White  girls  and 
these  for  the  most  part  are  foreigners  also.  Here 
is  a  large  and  remunerative  field  that  will  be  ul- 


THE  NEGKO  PROBLEM  H).") 

timately  closed  to  our  girls  if  they  do  not  take 
hold  of  the  situation  and  meet  all  competition. 
Surely  it  is  due  us,  if  we  make  good,  to  receive 
the  lalx)r  that  is  being  given  out  on  every  hand. 
We  were  here  before  the  foreigner  and  are  the 
native  laborers  of  the  country.  And  the  country 
owes  it  to  us  to  give  our  race  the  labor  of  the 
field,  of  the  trades  and  of  the  homes,  if  we  merit 
it.  I  greatly  fear,  however,  that  we  do  not  merit 
it.     \\t  need  more  sterling  worth  among  us. 

The  cities  are  becoming  the  great  centers  ot 
my  people  and  in  these  cities  there  is  plenty  to 
do.  The  work  is  there.  It  must  be  done.  My 
people  must  live.  They  must  have  money  to 
live.  They  should  get  this  money  honestly,  and 
this  means  by  work.  But  suppose  that  the  Col- 
ored people  of  the  cities,  both  North  and  South, 
fail  in  getting  their  portion  of  the  work  that  is 
to  be  done,  how  are  they  going  to  live?  That  is 
the  question.  And  we  are  sure  of  this  cbn- 
clusion,  that  if  a  man  does  not  earn  his  bread 
by  the  sweat  of  his  brow,  which  is  the  Divinely 
appointed  way  to  earn  it,  that  he  will  be  forced 
to  earn  it  in  some  dishonorable  manner.  He 
will  be  forced  to  become  more  or  less  a  criminal. 
He  will  become  a  menace  rather  than  a  benefit, 
to  the  community  in  which  he  lives.  So  that 
unless  my  people  look  to  their  own  welfare  in 


ie!6  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

our  cities  there  is  an  ever  growing  future  of 
darkness  for  them.  I  need  not  stop  to  tell  of  the 
unsanitary  conditions  in  which  they  live.  These 
conditions  are  enough  to  deplete  their  living 
greatly  every  year.  I  need  not  talk  of  the  crowded 
tenement  houses  of  the  city  where  many  persons 
of  both  sexes  are  frequently  huddled  into  one 
room  and  many  families  into  one  house.  I  need 
not  tell  of  the  bawdy  houses,  the  gambling  dens 
and  the  saloons,  thickly  scattered  through  the 
sections  of  the  city  w'here  the  Colored  people 
live.  It  is  enough  to  damn  them  all.  I  need 
not  tell  of  the  growing  criminal  class  among  the 
Negroes  in  the  cities  and  of  the  recruits  that 
flow  in  from  the  South  every  year.  I  need  not 
speak  of  the  White  and  the  Black  Slave  traffic 
among  the  young  girls  of  both  races.  The  cities 
are  the  death  centers  of  the  Negro  race,  unless 
there  is  something  radically  done  ^to  overtake 
these  conditions.  This,  of  course,  is  the  dark 
side  of  the  picture,  but  I  have  not  painted  it  as 
dark  as  it  is.  It  would  be  impossible  to  do  this. 
It  might  be  profitable  for  my  readers,  when  they 
are  in  Philadelphia,  to  visit  South  street  and  its 
adjoining  streets,  that  they  may  see  with  their 
own  eyes,  the  signs  of  infamy,  idleness  and  de- 
bauch among  my  people.  You  will  find  scores 
of  young  men  there  well  dressed,  simply  strag- 


THE  NEGRO  PROBLEM  167 

gling  about.  How  do  they  live?  Why  are  they 
not  at  work?  The  dens  of  infamy  hidden  in 
houses  answer  to  their  vocations. 

It  would  be  well  in  our  cities  to  have  such 
municipal  regulations  that  such  loafers,  male  or 
female,  could  be  arrested,  unless  they  could  show 
that  they  were  actually  engaged  in  some  legiti- 
mate work.  Unless  something  of  the  kind  is 
done  in  the  cities,  they  will  become  more  and 
more  the  cess  pools  of  sin  and  death,  and  into 
these  pools  thousands  upon  thousands  of  my  peo- 
ple will  be  thrown  annually  to  sink  to  hell ! 

There  is  not  only  the  obstacle  of  instability 
which  my  people  must  overcome  in  order  that 
they  may  get  and  hold  the  place  that  they  should 
have  in  the  held  of  labor,  but  the  Trades  Unions 
are  rapidly  closing  up  these  fields  against  the 
Colored  laborers.  The  basis  of  the  opposition 
to  the  Colored  people  is  primarily  the  desire  to 
eliminate  him  from  the  ordinary  industrial  lines 
of  work  that  he  will  not  be  able  to  compete  with 
the  White  man.  Of  course,  if  he  is  not  per- 
mitted to  work  there  is  no  danger  of  competi- 
tion. This  is  the  real  cause  of  the  opposition 
of  Labor  Unions  to  the  Colored  laborer,  but  this 
cause  is  hidden,  and  the  outward  cause  is,  be- 
cause his  skin  is  black.  They  do  not  want  to 
work  by  the  side  of  the  black  man.     This,  how- 


168  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

ever  is  but  a  good  excuse  in  the  mouth  of  the 
white  man  for  it  is  accepted  as  satisfactory  by 
the  white  employer.     An  examination  into  labor 
conditions  in  our  Northern  cities  reveals  a  de- 
plorable condition  so  far  as  the  Colored  man  is 
concerned.     He  cannot  get  a  job  calling  for  the 
skilled  artisan  however  skilled  he  may  be.     The 
Union  will  not  permit  him  to  win  his  bread  by 
the  sweat  of  his  brow.    He  cannot  work  because 
he  is  not  allowed  to  work.     What  is  to  be  done 
for  hundreds  of  laborers  who  are  thus  excluded 
from  the  fields  of  honest  livelihood?     There  is 
no   likelihood   that   these   avenues   will   ever   be 
>opened  and  unless  he  can  find  employment  among 
his  own  people  of  what  value  is  his  skill  as  an 
.artisan  to  him  and  of  what  use  is  the  acquiring 
-of   such  a  training?     The  only  answer  to  this 
question  is  that  the  Colored  laborer  must  thor- 
oughly prepare  himself  and  be  on  the  ground 
ready  for  action.    He  must  be  patient.    He  must 
be  prepared  to  meet  every  objectional  condition 
with  manliness  and  kindness,   for  the  odds  are 
against  him.     There  are  many  lessons  that  we 
have  learned  and  there  are  many  lessons  yet  to 
be  learned.     New  conditions  in  this  most  com- 
plex civilization  must  be  met  with  the  applica- 
tion of  the  principles  of  fidelity,  honesty,  indus- 


THK  NEGRO  PKOBLEM  U)9 


try,  and  the  like,  or  we  will  never  win  for  the 
race  in  this  country. 

Another  great  need  of  my  people  is  the  owner- 
ship of  their  homes.  This  makes  the  people, 
citizens  in  the  most  realistic  sense,  they  pay 
taxes  and  have  the  right  of  representation  on 
such  basis.  They  become  independent.  They 
are  then  able  to  lay  up  some  money.  They  are 
prepared  to  enjoy  life  in  its  real  and  true  sense. 
They  will  command  the  respect  of  the  White 
race  and  share  with  them  the  burdens  of  govern- 
ment in  times  of  peace.  They  become  producers 
to  some  degree.  There  cannot  be  said  too  much 
in  favor  of  the  gospel  of  ownership  in  this  form 
of  government.  It  is  our  sheet-anchor  of  hope. 
The  money  that  is  paid  out  annually  for  rent  if 
invested  through  the  right  channels  will  in  a  few 
years  pay  for  the  rented  house.  The  time  seems 
to  be  drawing  closer  when  it  wall  be  more  dif- 
ficult for  a  Colored  man  to  buy  good  property. 
There  are  many  sections  now  in  our  cities  from 
which  the  Colored  man  is  eliminated  as  a  pur- 
chaser. The  rule  is  to  confine  him  to  certain 
undesirable  sections  of  the  city.  This  can  be 
overcome  to  some  degree  by  the  practice  of 
economy  and  the  purchase  in  the  next  few  years 
of  homes. 

I  wish  it  to  be  known  that  I  am  bv  no  means 


170  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

a  pessimist,  regarding  my  people.  The  same 
God  made  my  race  that  made  the  White  race 
and  He  has  a  destiny  for  us  and  He  is  with 
us  that  we  may  reach  that  destiny.  But  I 
realize  that  we  have  our  own  part  to  perform 
and  that  it  must  be  done  on  the  foundation  of 
certain  great  principles  which  God  Himself  has 
taught  us  in  His  Book.  It  is  in  recognition  of 
these  eternal  laws  that  I  speak,  these  principles 
will  stand  forever  and  the  people  that  puts  them 
into  daily  practice,  will  abide  with  the  principles, 
but  the  people  wdio  violate  them  must  go  down. 
I  am  deeply  interested  in  the  education  of  the 
ministry  of  the  race.  There  are  thousands  of 
Colored  preachers  whose  education  is  sadly  defici- 
ent. They  are  really  not  capable  of  doing  the 
work  of  ministry  either  in  or  out  of  the  pulpit, 
and  yet  they  are  leading  millions  of  the  people. 
In  a  most  peculiar  sense  the  Colored  pastor  is 
the  leader  of  his  flock.  The  members  of  the 
church  follow  him  and  that  too  almost  blindly. 
They  will  condone  his  faults,  overlook  his  ig- 
norance, and  receive  what  he  says  as  "^'Tlie  law 
and  the  Gospel."  That  the  people  are  disposed 
to  this  most  kindly  attitude  toward  their  ministers 
is  most  praiseworthy,  but  that  in  many  cases  the 
ministers  are  unworthy  of  such  confidence  is 
most  lamentable.    It  has  been  carefullv  estimated 


THE  NEGRO  PROBLE  vl  171 

that  only  about  ten  per  cent  of  the  pastors  who 
have  been  ordained  are  college  men  and  that  the 
average  education  of  the  Colored  minister  is  not 
above  the  seventh  or  eighth  grade  of  the  common 
school,  with  practically  no  Bible  or  Theological 
training.  This  is  a  sad  state  of  affairs  when 
we  consider  that  the  minister  is  the  leader  of 
the  people.  And  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  dis- 
position to  improve  themselves  is  not  apparent 
on  the  part  of  many  of  these  ministers.  They 
rather  make  pretensions  and  hide  behind  these 
pretensions,  they  mask  themselves  behind  the 
smattering  of  an  education,  and  think  that  they 
are  passing  for  educated  men ;  but  how  sadly 
they  are  deceived.  How  this  condition  is  to  be 
remedied  is  yet  to  be  seen.  It  is  evident  that  the 
present  system  of  ministerial  education  in  vogue 
is  not  sufficient  for  the  need.  Out  of  over  fifteen 
hundred  young  men  who  enter  the  ministry  year- 
ly, only  ten  per  cent  are  graduated  in  the  Theo- 
logical course  of  all  our  schools.  The  schools 
of  the  United  States  doing  Theological  Training 
for  the  ministry  of  the  Negro  race  are  therefore 
not  beginning  to  do  the  work. 

I  might  mention  in  this  connection  that  there 
is  an  organization  which  is  beginning  this  work 
in  the  right  manner.  The  Bible  Educational  As- 
sociation, with  headquarters  in  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


U2  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

This  is  an  association  of  Bible  colleges  or 
schools.  These  schools  are  located  where  they 
are  needed  and  maintained  by  the  Association. 
By  the  plan  of  this  Association  schools  can  be 
established  where  the  ministers  are  located  as 
pastors  and  the  adyantages  of  this  training  is 
thereby  brought  to  their  yery  doors.  The  Bible 
College  of  Philadelphia  and  the  Bible  College 
of  Washington,  D.  C,  both  schools  of  this  As 
sociation  are  doing  a  great  work.  The  ministers 
are  being  greatly  benefited  by  taking  the  prac- 
tical and  helpful  courses.  These  schools  train 
also  young  men  for  the  ministry. 

There  is  much  more  that  I  might  say  on  this 
great  subject  of  the  Negro  Problem,  but  time 
and  space  will  not  allow.  W'hatever  course  may 
be  pursued  and  plans  adopted,  it  must  always  be 
remembered  that  "They  labor  in  yain,  except 
the  Lord  build  the  house."  Our  plans  are  like 
the  nests  of  mice,  the  straw  before  the  wind, 
the  dust  in  the  gale,  they  amount  to  nothing 
without  God's  co-operation.  And  His  co-opera- 
tion cannot  be  had  without  our  obedience  to  His 
laws  and  commands.  The  people  of  this  coun- 
try of  both  races  haye  much  to  learn  of  yital 
Godliness.  The  prejudice  which  exists  in  both 
races,  the  hatred  and  antagonism  engendered 
thereby,   the   separation  of   the   races   in   educa- 


THE  NEKUO  PR(>BLE>[  173 

tional  and  religious  matters,  are  all  parts  of  the 
condition  which  we  are  forced  to  face  and  in 
some  manner  to  meet.  Both  races  must  know 
each  other  better.  They  must  recognize  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  manhood  and  woman- 
hood They  must  build  promotion,  on  merit  and 
service,  on  ability,  regardless  of  the  color  of  the 
skin  or  previous  condition  of  servitude.  All 
must  become  the  followers  of  the  Meek  and 
Lowly  Christ,  and  they  will  be  brothers  and 
our  brothers'  keepers.  There  is  no  Fatherhood 
of  God  and  Brotherhood  of  Alan,  excepting  on 
this  foundation.  Whether  I  live  to  see  it  or  not, 
the  Negro  problem  will  never  be  settled,  unless 
on  this  basis. 


^prmon0 


s^rnitnus 


Acquaintance  With  God. 

Thus  said  the  Lord,  In  this  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am 
the  Lord :  Behold  I  \vill  smite  with  the  rod  that  is  in 
mine  hand  upon  the  waters  in  the  river  and  they  shall 
be  turned  into  blood.-;— Exodus  7:17. 


,  There  are  many  perplexities  which  are  not  ex- 
plained by  philosophers.  Men  of  scholarly  re- 
nown have  by  no  means  been  able  to  comprehend 
the  mysteries  of  God.  In  His  Omnipotence,  Om- 
nicience  and  Omnipresence,  he  enveloped  Moses, 
the  great  law-giver,  but  with  Llis  God.  The 
power  that  was  to  uphold  Aloses  was  not  inborn 
nor  was  it  acquired,  but  it  was  God.  The  omni- 
presence, the  hand  that  was  to  guide  him  in  all 
his  earthh^  wanderings  was  not  his  own  hand, 
but  the  hand  of  his  God.  So  that  whatever  of 
success  came  to  ]\Ioses,  God  would  have  ]\Ioses 
as  well  as  us,  to  know,  that  it  came  from  the 
blessings  of  God  and  not  through  the  wisdom  or 
the  efforts  of  man.  Therefore,  let  us  render 
obedience'  to  our  God^  who  has  promised  us,  that 
although  the  heavens  and  the  earth  pass  away, 


178  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

not  one  jot  or  tittle  of  His  Word  or  of  His  law, 
shall  in  any  wise  pass,  until  all  be  fulfilled. 
We  discover  in  the  text  the  first  great  truth, 
that  God  wishes  us  to  know  Him. 

The  providences  of  God  were  manifested  to 
]\Ioses  through  His  dealings  with  him.  This  is 
one  of  God's  wavs  of  makins:  himself  known  to 
us.  But  pur  eyes  must  be  open  to  the  fact  that 
it  is  God  who  deals  with  us  in  our  conditions 
and  circumstances  of  life — yes,  it  is  God.  We 
may  say  that  it  is  Xature,  that  it  is  Law,  that  it 
is  Force,  but  herein  are  we  blind,  for  God  says 
that  'Tn  this  thou  shalt  know."  The  doings  of 
God  are  frequently  through  nature,  sometimes 
above  nature,  as  in  the  case  of  turning  the  water 
of  the  river  into  blood,  but  we  are  to  be  able  to 
see  that  it  is  God's  hand  that  moves  and  God's 
A'oice  that  speaks.  If  a  man  knows  not  God  he 
will  always  attribute  the  doings  of  God  in  his 
life  to  some  other  cause  or  causes  ;  but  if  he  know 
God,  he  thus  becomes  better  acquainted  with 
God.  So  in  the  case  of  ]\Ioses,  God's  promise 
was  sufficient  to  allow  him  and  the  Jewish  people 
to  accomplish  results  which  were  replete  with 
honor  and  glory.  These  pilgrims  on  their  way 
to  the  Promised  Land  of  Canaan  were  full  of 
faith  and  confidence  in  God,  they  believed  Him, 
they  knew   Him.     He  had  promised  them  that 


SERMONS  1/9 


He  would  bring-  them  to  this  land  that  ''Flowed 
with  milk  and  honey"  and  nothing-  could  turn 
Him  from  the  fulfilment  of  this  promise;  no, 
not  even  the  sins  of  His  people.  For  did  they 
not  rebel  against  Him  and  sin  most  greviously 
aeainst  Him  in  the  wilderness,  and  vet  did  He 
not  bring  them  into  Canaan? 

"Behold  I  will  smite  the  water  of  the  river 
with  the  rod  that  is  in  mine  hand  and  it  shall 
be  turned  into  blood." 

The  church  is  the  receptacle  of  truth.  God 
has  always  committed  His  truth  to  His  chosen 
people,  to  the  believers,  the  church.  The  church 
is  devoted  and  consecrated  in  word  and  action 
to  the  s-lorv  and  the  service  of  God.  Through 
it  He  has  caused  the  light  to  shine  in  darkness, 
His  love  to  fall  into  our  hearts,  the  light  of  Flis 
knowledge  and  gloiy  has  appeared  in  the  face  of 
Jesus  Christ,  His  Son,  who  is  the  great  Head  of 
the  Church.  God  appeared  to  Closes  through 
Jehovah,  the  Head  of  the  Church,  and  it  was 
upon  the  strong  arm  of  Jehovah  that  ]\Ioses 
leaned  and  it  is  upon  the  same  strong  arm  that 
we,  the  church  in  this  day,  also  lean.  Moses 
saw  the  fire  in  the  Burning  Bush  and  he  heard 
the  voice  out  of  the  Bush.  He  turned  and  saw 
that  the  Bush  was  burning,  but  that  it  was  not 
consumed.  ]\Iy  brethren,  do  you  know  that  this 
Burning   Bush  of   the   desert  is   a  type  of   the 


180  OUT  OF  THE  BKTARS 

church?  It  is  the  church  passing  through  the 
fiery  trials  of  this  world,  the  church  burning  on 
every  hand  with  temptations,  troubles,  doubts, 
distresses,  tribulations,  sufferings,  and  yet  she 
is  not  consumed.  So  Moses  was  taught  at  the 
very  beginning  of  his  ministry  that  God  was  in 
the  church  through  the  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ 
and  that  things  were  made  to  work  together  for 
good  to  her.  Thou,  the  Church,  shall  know  that 
I  am  the  Lord.  Lofty  cedars,  towering  oaks, 
bramble  bushes,  the  national  capital,  the  House 
of  the  Lord,  all  these  may  attract  the  multitudes 
of  sight-seers,  but  God's  own  people  shall  know 
that  He  is  God  and  that  there  is  no  other  God. 

The  text  also  teaches  us  that. 

H.  God  is  prompt  in  the  keeping  of  His 
promises. 

Wherever  two  or  three  of  God's  servants  are 
gathered  together  in  His  name,  God  is  in  the 
midst  of  them  to  do  all  that  Lie  has  promised. 
He  is  prompt  to  keep  His  word.  He  rides  upon 
the  wings  of  the  wind  and  upon  the  wings  of 
angels  and  upon  the  lightning,  that  He  may  meet 
all  His  engagements.  We  see  Him  in  the  return 
of  His  prodigals.  A\'e  see  Him  every  where, 
keeping  faith,  doing  His  will,  fulfilling  His 
promises.  He  is  the  omnipresent  God !  Because 
of  His  promptness  His  people  are  always  able 
to  confide  in  Him. 


SERMONS  IHI 


God  is  prompt  in  sustaining-  the  physical  needs 
of  the  universe.  It  is  worth  our  while  to  look 
into  God's  storehouse  to  see  how  He  has  filled 
it  with  food  for  the  flying  fowl,  the  fish  of  the 
sea,  the  beast  of  the  field,  and  man,  the  Lord  of 
the  earth.  Food  and  fuel,  light  and  heat,  air 
and  water,  soil  and  seed,  wind  and  rain,  snow 
and  frost,  these  are  the  agents  of  His  prompt 
action  as  the  Father  of  the  Universe.  Prove 
me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord^  and  see  if  I 
will  not  open  the  windows  of  heaven  and  pour 
you  out  such  a  blessing  that  there  will  not  be 
room  enough  to  receive  it.     (Alal.  ii  :i-ii.) 

God  is  as  prompt  in  sustaining  the  needs  of 
man's  soul.  He  was  with  our  forefathers,  He 
was  with  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  He  was 
with  Noah,  He  w^as  with  Enoch,  He  was  with 
Abel,  He  was  with  our  first  parents,  Adam  and 
Eve,  all  these  in  their  experiences  and  lives  at- 
tested the  fact  that  God  saved  them  and  saved 
them  at  the  right  time.  He  gave  them  His  own 
salvation  and  not  the  salvation  of  another.  All 
the  Saints  of  the  ages  have  depended  on  God's 
promptness  to  do  what,  he  promised  He  would 
do.  There  is  not  an  instance  in  the  history  of 
His  people  or  in  our  own  experience,  if  we  inter-, 
pret  His  dealing  aright,  where  He  has  not 
promptly  kept  His  word  of  promise.  Every 
child  of   God  has  his   spiritual  battles   to  fight. 


182  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

But  depending  on  God  with  the  musket  of  His 
grace  he  will  rout  the  enemy.  -Satan  in  all  his 
hellish  rage  is  not  able  to  overthrow  the  bul- 
warks of  the  cliurch  behind  which  the  believer 
stands  to  destroy  the  forces  of  evil.  God  was 
prompt  in  striking  the  sea  and  His  people  were 
prompt  in  crossing.  He  was  prompt  in  leading 
His  armies  and  they  were  prompt  in  winning 
the  victories.  Jehovah  is  prompt  in  aiding  His 
own  and  His  own  are  quick  in  winning  the  land 
of  spiritual  freedom. 

The  river  was  turned  into  blood  and  all  the 
waters  of  Egypt  were  instantly  changed  into 
blood.  But  God's  river  is  a  river  of  the  water  of 
life.  Consider,  my  brethren,  these  great  types 
of  the  Bible — these  rivers  of  blood,  these  rivers 
of  water,  these  rivers  of  life !  God  stands  with 
His  rod  stretched  over  every  river ;  your  sins, 
your  wickedness,  may  turn  the  waters  of  life 
into  the  blood  of  death ;  which,  what,  shall  it 
be?  God  says  to  you  and  hear  ye  His  voice, 
"Come  now  let  us  reason  together,  your  sins 
though  they  be  as  scarlet,  I  will  make  them  like 
snow,  though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  I  will 
make  them  like  wool."  None,  my  friends,  but 
God  can  work  these  changes.  The  church  is 
moving  on  with  the  march  of  the  centuries.  She 
is  grandly  marching  on !  ]\Ioses  has  gone,  Joshua 


SERMONS  18:? 


has  gone,  the  prophets  have  gone,  the  apostles 
have  gone,  the  saints  of  the  Christian  era  have 
gone,  and  we  are  passing  on,  but  God  is  with  us 
and  He  is  prompt  in  keeping  His  word. 
"On  the  other  side  of  Jordan,  in  the  sweet  fields 

of  Eden, 
Where  the  Tree  of  Life  is  blooming,   there   is 
rest  for  you." 

HI.  The  text  teaches  us  that  the  river,  turned 
into  blood,  is  the  Type  of  Christ. 

Jehovah,  or  Jesus,  in  Egypt,  turned  the  water 
into  blood;  Jehovah,  or  Jesus,  in  Canaan,  in  the 
country  of  Galilee,  turned  the  water  into  wine. 
"The  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."' 
The  wine  of  the  Communion  Table  is  the  sym- 
bol of  His  blood.  In  these  last  days  God  has 
spoken  to  us  in  the  person  of  His  Son.  In  Him 
was  life,  and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men.  He 
came  into  our  own  flesh  aiid  blood  and  dwelt 
among  us  and  we  beheld  His  glory,  the  glory  as 
of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father.  "Our  life 
is  hid  with  Christ,  in  God."  These  are  most 
wonderful  words ! 

But  let  us  remember  that  the  rivers  of.  blood 
in  Egypt  did  not  change  the  heart  of  Pharaoh, 
neither  did  they  change  the  hearts  of  the  Egyp- 
tians. The  blood  of  Christ  has  been  shed  but  it 
is  of  no  avail  to  them  that  will  not  accept  its 


184  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

saving"  power.  Christ  died  for  all  but  are  all 
saved?  How  many  are  saved?  Are  you  saved? 
If  so,  why?  Oh,  my  friends,  it  is  the  blood  of 
Christ  that  availeth  all  things  with  God. 

"What  can  save  my  soul  from  sin? 
Nothing  but  the  blood  of  Jesus." 

^'Unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son  is 
given.  He  is  the  wonderful  Counselor,  the  mighty 
God,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  the  Everlasting  Fa- 
ther." Just  as  Pharaoh  and  his  hosts  were  strewn 
in  death  upon  the  sands  of  the  sea^  so  Satan  and 
his  hosts  will  be  strewn  upon  the  land  of  time. 
Christ  is  our  mighty  Captain.  He  has  led  His 
battle  strong,  through  the  ages  of  the  past  and 
on  through  the  ages  of  time  to  come.  He  will 
lead  to  victory.  His  blood  is  all-availing  with 
God  and  God  is  the  ruler  of  the  universe.  It  is 
for  Christ's  sake  that  God  hears  and  answers  our 
prayers.  It  is  for  Christ's  sake  that  He  saves  our 
souls.  It  is  for  Christ's  sake  that  He  will  make 
us  kings  and  priests  to  rule  and  reign  with  Him 
forever.  It  is  for  Christ's  sake  that  He  has  pre- 
pared for  us  the  Canaan  that  lies  beyond  the 
Jordan  of  Death  and  it  is  for  Christ's  sake  that 
He  is  with  us  today.  And  after  while  we  will 
sing,  "Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for 
Thou  (Christ)  art  with  me,  thy  rod  and  thy 
staff,  they  comfort  me." 


SERMONS  isr, 


"Thus  said  the  Lord,  in  this  thou  shalt  know 
that  I  am  the  Lord :  Behold  I  will  smite  with 
the  rod  in  mine  hand  upon  the  waters  of  the 
river  and  they  shall  be  turned  into  blood."  God 
grant  to  bless  every  soul  here  to-day  with  the 
blessed  words  of  this  text. 


The  Intercession  of  Christ. 

"He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them." — He- 
brews 8  :2^. 

Christ  had  completed  His  work  on  the  earth. 

He   had   kept   the   faith,    fulfilled   the   law,   and 

isuffered   its   penalty   in   His   death.      His   work, 

therefore,   so   far  as  the  earthly  conditions  and 

needs  were  concerned,  was  completed.     He  did 

this  work,   it  must  be   remembered,   not  on   his 

•own  account  or  for  himself,  but  on  your  account 

and  for  you.     He  was  acting  in  the  capacity  of 

.a  representative  while  on  the  earth,  so  that  when 

his  life  in  the  flesh  had  been  finished,  it  might 

become   your    life   and   my   life,    through    faith. 

^^'e  are  told  by  the  apostle  that  after  this,  i.  e., 

He  had  finished  His  work  here,  He  was  believed 

^on  in  the  world,  justified  in  the  spirit,  seen  of 

angels,  received  into  glory  where  He  ever  liveth 

to  make  intercession   for  us."     \A'e  notice  that 

.this  passage  teaches  us,  that 

J.  Christ  was  absolutelv  free  from  selfishness. 


386  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

"Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this  that  he 
lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends."  Yes,  there  is 
a  greater  love,  for  Christ  laid  down  his  life  for 
His  enemies.  Study  the  life  of  Christ  as  He 
lived  here  below,  see  how  free  He  was  from  the 
selfish  taint  of  sin  which  lurks  in  our  natures, 
and  alas,  too  frequently  is  the  ruling  passions 
of  our  lives.  With  Christy  others  were  first  in 
consideration  and  in  service ;  but  with  us,  we  are 
the  first  to  be  considered  and  served  and  others 
must  wait;  then  if  there  is  opportunity  or  time 
they  will  be  considered  and  served.  Christ 
opened  the  gate  of  righteousness  and  the  way 
that  leads  to  life.  This  cost  Him  his  own  life, 
the  price  of  it  was  not  only  the  suffering  and 
labors  of  life,  but  the  pangs  of  the  physical,  and 
the  eternal  pains  of  the  spiritual,  death;  for  you 
must  know  that  Christ  tasted  the  death 
for  every  man.  We  can  have  no  conception  of 
what  death  meant  to  Him  and  yet  He  went  dow^n 
to  death  willingly  for  you  and  for  me.  What 
are  we  doing  that  we  may  become  human 
saviours  of  men,  that  we  too  may  suffer  and 
labor  for  others,  that  we  may  die  that  through 
our  death  others  may  life?  These  are  vital  ques- 
tions if  you  and  I  are  to  be  known  as  His  hum- 
ble followers;  if  you  and  I  are  to  share  His 
glory  with  Him,  we  must  also  be  with  Him  in 
His    sufferings    and    death.      ''Enter    in    at    the 


SERMONS  IKl 


strait  gate  for  wide  is  the  gate  and  broad  is  the 
way  that  leads  to  death,  but  strait  is  the  gate 
and  narrow  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  life; 
many  there  be  that  go  in  at  the  former  gate 
of  death,  but  few  find  the  strait  gate  of  life." 

II.  The  purpose  of  Christ's  life  and  death,  was 
that  He  might  be  able  to  give  life  unto  others. 
"Father,  the  hour  is  come.  Glorify  thy  son  that 
thy  son  also  may  glorify  thee.  As  thou  hast 
given  him  power  over  all  flesh  that  he  should 
give  eternal  life  to  as  many  as  thou  hast  given 
him."     John   i8  :i,  2. 

We  read  that  ''To  as  many  as  received  him. 
to  them  gave  He  power  to  become  the  sons 
or  the  children  of  God."  It  is  interesting  to 
notice  that  the  word  translated  "power"  here, 
means  a  great  deal  more  than  power  or  author- 
ity. It  has  a  germinal  meaning  and  has  refer- 
ence to  life.  The  idea  is  that  Christ  plants  in 
us  the  seed  of  eternal  life  and  it  grows  and 
takes  root  in  the  heart  and  Hfe  of  every  be- 
liever and  they  thereby  become  the  children  of 
God.  There  is  therefore  the  germ  of  eternal 
life  just  as  there  is  the  germ  of  physical  or  mor- 
tal life.  The  only  purpose  which  Christ  had  in 
coming  into  human  flesh  was  that  He  might  be 
able  thereby  to  plant  in  human  nature  the  seed 
of  everlasting  life,  which  sin  had  prevented 
from  bearing  fruit.     So  He  became  one  of  us, 


IKS  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

bone  of  our  bone  and  flesh  of  our  flesh,  our 
very  brother.  The  very  Hfe  which  He  Uved  in 
the  flesh  is  the  pattern  for  our  hves.  He  is  our 
example  in  thought,  word,  and  action,  ^^'e  are 
to  Hve  His  Hfe  by  letting  Christ  live  in  us.  As 
Paul  said  regarding  sin,  "It  is  not  I  but  sin  that 
dwelleth  in  me,"  so  he  also  said  that  Christ 
dwelt  in  him  and  we  know  that  Christ  dwelleth 
in  us  and  that  through  Him  we  can  do  all  things. 
^^'e  are  very  prone  to  think  always  of  Christ's 
Divinity  and  to  seek  to  explain  His  life  on  this 
basis,  this  is  a  great  mistake.  We  are  to  look 
on  Christ  as  also  human,  a  real  man;  His  trials 
and  temptations  real ;  His  limitations  as  a  man, 
real ;  His  knowledge  and  experience  as  a  man, 
real.  Such  reflections  as  these  bring  Him  very 
near  to  us  and  become  a  great  inspiration  to  us 
in  that  they  make  His  ideal  life,  a  real  life; 
hence  His  ideal  human  life  becomes  to  us  a  real 
human  life.  ''He  came  that  we  might  have  life 
and  that  we  might  have  it  more  abundant."  Our 
life,  that  is  our  Christ-life,  may  become  abundant 
in  its  power,  in  its  light,  in  its  fruits,  if  we  will 
walk  and  talk  with  Jesus  daily.  He  is  the  vine 
and  we  are  the  branches.  But  in  order  that  the 
branches  may  live  and  bear  fruit,  they  must  abide 
in  the  vine.  Jesus  taught  us  that  if  we  obeyed 
Him,  we  were  abiding  in  Him.  Obedience  there- 
fore is  the  vital  union  between  us  and   Christ, 


SERMONS  189 


the   A'ine.      Disobedience   is   the   cutting   of   the 
branch  off  from  the  vine  and  the  branch  dies. 
•   This  leads  us  to  another  great  fact  in  the  text, 
namely  that 

III.  Christ  is  now  engaged  in  making  inter- 
cession for  us  at  God's  throne. 

His  work  on  earth  is  finished,  but  in  Heaven, 
He  is  "still  engaged  in  our  behalf.  The  priest  of 
the  Mosaic  Dispensation,  made  intercession  for 
the  people.  He  offered  sacrifice  for  them  and 
then  he  entered  into  the  temple,  the  Holy  of 
Holies,  once  a  year,  in  the  person  of  the  High 
Priest  and  prayed  for  the  people.  But  this 
priest  was  a  sinner  like  the  people.  He  had  to 
first  offer  sacrifice  for  himself  then  for  the 
people.  He  has  passed  away.  The  earthly 
priesthood,  in  the  ^Mosaic  sense,  is  no  more.  This 
priest  was  but  a  type  of  Christ.  Christ  is  the 
great  anti-type.  Christ  offered  His  sacrifice  also, 
which  was  His  own  life.  He  made  no  sacrifice 
for  himself,  for  He  was  without  sin,  but  He 
made  sacrifice  for  the  people.  Now  He  has 
entered  into  the  temple  on  High,  into  the  Holy 
of  Holies,  where  He  stands  to  plead  for  you  and 
for  me.  Intercession  here,  means  that  Christ  is 
our  Advocate  at  the  throne  of  God.  He  is  our 
lawyer  in  the  supreme  court  of  God.  He  repre- 
sents us.  He  pleads  our  case.  He  defends  our 
cause.     There  is  nothing  that  takes  place  in  our 


190  OUT  OF  THE    BRIARS 

lives  that  He  does  not  take  note  of,  there  is  no 
sin  that  passes  without  His  taking  account  of  it, 
there  is  no  thought,  or  word,  or  deed,  that  is  not 
entered  in  the  book  of  His  Remembrance.  He 
must  keep  an  accurate  account  of  our  hves,  for 
He  represents  us  at  the  Great  AMiite  Throne. 
How  wonderful  is  this  thought  and  how  inspir- 
ing !  Let  us  therefore  make  our  intercessions  to 
Him  that  He  may  take  up  our  prayers  and  in 
His  own  Heavenly  language,  present  them  to  our 
Heavenlv  Father. 


Christ   Glorified  in   His  Word. 

"Let  the  word  of  Christ  chvell  in  you  richly  in  all 
wisdom.'' — Col.  3:16. 

It  "is  well  nigh  impossible  for  us  to  understand 
the  power  of  a  word.  Wq  read  that  in  the  be- 
ginning God  said,  "Let  there  be  light,"  these 
were  the  words  or  the  \\'ord.  Who  can  tell  the 
v^'isdom  and  the  power  that  dwelt  in  that  word 
or  command?  \\'e  are  not  able  even  now  to 
measure  the  magnificent  result,  but  we  read, 
"And  there  was  light."  Christ  stood  at  the  seal- 
ed tomb  and  said.  "Lazarus,  come  forth."  This 
was  the  word  or  the  command.  It  is  not  in  the 
power  of  the  human  mind  to  comprehend  the 
meaning,  the  power  and  the  wisdom  of  this 
word,  but  we  see  the  effect,  ^'And  Lazarus,  came 


SERMONS  191 


forth."  \\'e  take  the  Bible  in  its  entirety  and 
call  it  the  Word  of  God,  the  Word  of  Christ.  So 
that  in  the  unfolding  of  the  text,  we  wish  you 
to  note  that : 

I.  The  entire  Scriptures,  from  Genesis  to  Rev- 
elation, is  the  Word  of  Christ. 

We  must  not  look  on  the  Bible  as  composed 
of  parts  when  we  make  it,  "The  man  of  our 
counsel."  the  guide  of  our  hfe.  The  entire  book 
is  the  guide,  the  man,  the  law,  the  Gospel.  There 
is  a  disposition  of  many  Christians  to  attach 
more  importance  to  one  part  of  the  Bible  than 
another  part.  This  is  wrong  and  it  leads  to 
evil  in  our  lives.  Every  part  of  the  Bible  be- 
longs to  the  entire  book,  it  cannot  be  detached, 
it  must  not  be  rendered  less  important  than  some 
other  part,  for  it  was  all  written  for  our  instruc- 
tion and  edification.  So  I  would  have  you  under- 
stand that  -the  Bible  itself  in  its  entirety,  is  the 
Word  of  Christ,  in  the  text,  Christ  is  the  light 
and  the  glory  of  every  page  of  its  history,  proph- 
ecv,  precept,  promise,  poetry,  philosophy  and 
practice.  Human  reason,  effort  and  energy  are 
too  weak  to  have  reached  Heaven  and  brought 
down  to  us  the  riches  of  the  Word  of  God.  No 
man  hath  come  down  from  Heaven  to  tell  us 
of  the  wonders  of  the  spiritual  life,  but  the  man, 
Christ  Jesus.     He  is  the  pearl  of  priceless  value, 


192  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

which  we  are  to  find  hidden  in  this  ^^^ord.  Let 
the  ^^'ord  of  Christ  reign  in  you  when  your 
greatest  interests  are  at  stake,  when  your  strong- 
est passions  are  raging,  and  He  will  guide  you 
into  all  truth  and  grace,  and  you  will  sing,  "Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest.  Peace  on  earth,  Good 
will  to  men." 

The  Bible  is  the  A\'ord  of  Christ,  because  He 
is  the  Author.  He  is  the  Jehovah  of  the  Old 
Testament,  and  the  Jesus  of  the  Xew  Testament. 
He  spake  to  the  Prophets  as  well  as  to  the  Apos- 
tles. He  was  in  that  beginning  which  was  be- 
fore time,  when  He  is  called  the  Word  of  God, 
when  He  was  associated  with  God,  and  when  He 
was  God,  and  He  was  also  in  that  beginning 
which  marks  the  first  moment,  the  first  hour, 
the  first  day  of  time,  when  all  things  were  made 
by  Him  and  without  Him  was  nothing  made 
which  was  made.  He  is  known  as  the  Lamb 
which  was  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  the  everlasting  Prince,  the  Holy  One. 
As  the  A\'ord  of  God,  Christ  is  the  great  and 
only  revealer  of  God  and  His  revelation  or  rev- 
elations are  the  Bible,  the  Scriptures,  the  \Yovd 
of  God.  We  are  exhorted  therefore  to  see  that 
great  company  which  doth  encompass  us  about 
and  which  looks  down  upon  us,  filled  with  God's 
wisdom  and  power,  because  the  word  of  Christ 


SERMONS  19c 


dwells  richly  in  us.  We  are  to  look  to  Jesus  as 
not  only  the  author  of  His  own  Word,  but  also 
through  this  word,  as  the  author  and  finisher 
of  our  faith,  or  religion.  This  word  must  dwell 
richly  in  the  heart  that  the  believer  may  be  able 
to  glorify  God  and  to  strive  for  that  faith  which 
is  steadfast  and  unmovable,  for  let  us  remem- 
ber that  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by 
the  word  of  God.  Just  as  Christ  appeared  to 
Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob  and  Moses,  to  whom  He 
said,  'T  will  be  thy  mouth,"  so  He  appears  today 
to  every  believer,  in  His  Word.  All  these  holy 
men  of  old  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the 
Holy  Spirit.  The  Holy  Spirit  takes  the  things 
of  God  and  of  Christ,  and  tells  them  to  us  in 
W'Ords.  He  gives  us  God's  and  Christ's  words. 
\A^hen  Joshua  prayed  that  the  sun  might  stand 
still,  the  sun  in  his  fiery  course  stood  still.  Why? 
Because  it  was  the  word  of  God  in  Joshua 
which  commanded  the  sun  to  stand  still.  I  pray 
God,  my  brethren,  that  you  may  be  filled  richly 
with  the  word  of  God  in  all  wdsdom,  that  your 
ow^n  hearts  may  be  filled  with  all  spiritual  bless- 
ing; that  the  wickedness  which  is  flooding  the 
country  in  hellish  rage,  may  be  stopped;  that 
sinners  may  be  brought  to  repentance ;  that  the 
church  may  triumph  most  gloriously,  and  that 
the   whole   earth   may  be   filled   with   righteous- 


194  OUT  OF  THP:  BRIARS 

ness   as   the  waters   cover  the   deep.     We  need 

today  another   Pentecost,  when  thousands  shall 

be  converted  to   God,   and  that  time  will  come 

just  as  soon  as  God's  disciples  are  filled  with  the 

word  of  God. 

II.  The  Word  of  Christ  Dwelling  in  Us  is  Our 

Strength. 

The  Word  reveals  to  us  the  saving  power  of 
God.  Paul  said,  'T  am  not  ashamed  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Christ,  for  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation."  Yes,  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation,  that  is  the  thought  that  you  should 
take  hold  of.  We  need  power,  strength,  in  this 
world  of  weakness  and  sin,  and  we  can  get  this 
power  only  by  letting  the  Word  of  Christ,  dwell 
in  us  richly.  The  Word  of  Christ  dwelling  in  us 
will  take  us  out  of  ourselves,  teach  us  that  labor, 
learning,  house-hold  duties,  supporting  our  fam- 
ilies, being  punctual  to  our  duties  in  the  church, 
avoiding  quick  tempers  and  unkind  words,  con- 
stitute the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  which  we  are 
to  live.  We  must  therefore  be,  ''Doers  of  the 
Word  and  not  hearers  only."  We  must  hear 
the  Word  on  the  Sabbath  and  do  it  every  day 
of  the  week.  We  are  to  look  into  the  perfect 
law  of  liberty  that  we  may  know  what  manner 
of  persons  we  are,  and  to  continue  to  look  into 
this  law,  lest  when  we  know,  we  should  forget 


SEKMONS  195 


what  manner  of  persons  we  are.  'Ture  and 
undefiled  religion  before  God  the  Father  is  this, 
that  we  should  visit  the  widow  and  the  father- 
less in  their  affliction  and  keep  ourselves  un- 
spotted from  the  world."  To  do  all  these  things, 
my  brethren,  the  Word  of  God  must  dwell  rich- 
ly in  you,  in  wisdom,  or  there  will  not  be  enoug^h 
strength  in  you  to  live  this  Christ-like  life.  His 
word  is  strength,  because  Christ  dwells  in  His 
word,  and  if  His  word  dwells  in  you,  you  will 
have  the  strength  of  Christ  in  you.  See  what 
Christ  is^  He  is  life  and  immortality,  He  gives 
repentance  and  remission  of  sins.  He  is  the 
bread  that  cometh  dowai  from  Heaven,  His 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  He  saves,  and  He 
does  all  these  things  in  and  through  His  word. 
Is  that  word  in  you?  Lean  on  Him  in  His  word, 
and  He  will  give  you  daily  strength,  and  guide 
you  into  all  blessing,  He  will  give  you  eternal 
Hfe  here  and  hereafter. 

HI.  His  Word  Reveals  to  us  the  Plan  of  Sal- 
vation. 

We  would  know^  nothing  of  the  Saviour,  nor 
of  the  sinner  except  through  His  word.  He 
came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  w-as  lost. 
Yes,  it  was  lost,  the  soul  of  man.  What  w^e  know 
of  sin,  of  Satan,  of  hell,  of  heaven,  of  repent- 
ance, of  faith,  of  justification,  of  sanctification, 


19G  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

of  glorification,  we  know  through  His  word, 
and  whatever  we  shall  experience  of  these  bless- 
ings, we  shall  experience  through  His  word. 

"I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and 
the  end,  the  first  and  the  last,  which  is  and  was 
and  is  to  come."  We  must  be  saved  through  His 
word.  Job  said,  "I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
liveth,  and  that  I  shall  stand  upon  the  earth  at 
the  latter  days  and  though  after  my  skin  worms 
destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh  will  I  see  God 
whom  mine  eyes  shall  see  for  myself  and  not 
another."  How  did  Job  get  this  knowledge? 
It  was  through  the  ^^'ord  of  God,  doubtless 
spoken  to  him.  And  whatever  we  know  of  sal- 
vation, of  sin,  or  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
of  Heaven  and  hell,  of  eternity,  of  immortality, 
we  must  get  it  out  of  the  Word  of  Christ.  I 
exhort  you,  therefore,  niy  dear  brethren,  to  have 
the  Word  of  Christ  dwelling  in  you  richly  in 
wisdom ;  study  it  daily,  commit  it  to  memory, 
put  it  into  practice  every  hour,  turn  its  precepts 
into  practice,  and  you  will  rejoice  in  its  power 
to  redeem  you  from  your  sins,  and  to  fill  your 
hearts  with  power,  joy  and  peace.  Amen. 


SEKMUNS  1»7 

Where  Is  Your  Tent? 

"And  Isaac  departed  and  pitched  his  tent  in  the  val- 
ley of  Gerar  and  dwelt  there."— Gen.  26:17. 

Our  text  is  found  in  connection  with  a  para- 
graph of  pecuhar  weight  and  subUmity.  The 
IsraeUtes  in  ah  their  wanderings  had  a  high  re- 
gard for  tlie  Levites.  They  formed  the  tribe  of 
Levi,  which  filled  a  most  important  place  in  the 
life  of  the  Israelites.  The  entire  nation  and 
government  was  permeated  with  their  influence. 
They  were  the  officers  and  teachers  in  the  syna- 
gogue, or  Tabernacle.  The  Tabernacle  was  the 
center  of  Hebrew  hfe.  All  the  encampments  of 
the  Israelites  was  made  around  the  Tabernacle. 
This  tent  was  God's  dwelling  place,  and  whither 
the  Israelites  moved,  they  followed  the  Taber- 
nacle, it  was  not  only  their  guide  but  their  guard. 
When  on  the  march  they  carried  it  with  them, 
and  when  they  were  at  rest  they  set  it  up. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  Israelites  always 
had  a  high  regard  for  their  women.  These  wo- 
men were  thoroughly  identified  with  the  history 
.of  this  people,  and  often  filled  prominent  posi- 
tions. The  influence  and  power  of  the  Israel- 
itish  women  is  well  worth  careful  study  that  we 
may  learn  some  valuable  lessons  therefrom. 
Miriam  was  very  closely  associated  with  Moses 
and  Aaron.     Deborah  was   a  mighty  leader  of 


19S  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

her  people.  There  were  many  prophetesses  such 
as  Anna  at  the  temple.  The  wives  of  such  men 
as  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob  exerted  a  great 
influence  over  these  men,  for  they  were  women 
of  fine  judgment,  and  highly  developed  relig- 
ious characters.  The  wife  of  Abraham  was  al- 
ways with  him  for  ''better  or  worse,"  through 
good  and  evil  report.  She  was  faithful  and  effi- 
cient as  his  life-companion.  She  did  not  live 
with  him  for  ornament  or  social  distinction, 
but  for  what  she  could  contribute  to  his  happi- 
ness and  success.  She  made  her  life,  his  life; 
her  destiny,  his  destiny. 

On  this  occasion  of  your  anniversary,  I  take 
this  opportunity  to  call  your  attention  to  the  di- 
rection in  which  you  are  pitching  your  tent.  We 
cannot  stand  still.  We  choose  the  place  of  our 
tent  today,  and  we  will  have  to  choose  the  place 
where  we  will  pitch  it  tomorrow.  Whither  are 
you  going  and  where  are  you  to  pitch  your  tent? 
How  important  these  questions.  You  are  here 
tonight,  with  your  tears  and  affection,  your  sym* 
pathy  and  smiles,  not  for  show,  but  that  you 
might  hear  the  Gospel,  and  let  the  world  know 
that  you  are  moving  in  the  right  direction,  and 
that  your  tent  will  be  pitched  nearer  Heaven. 
You  are  here,  as  wives  and  mothers  and  sisters, 
to  do  your  part  by  the  men  whom  God  has  plac- 


SERMONS  !!♦* 

ed  yon  with,  and  to  do  your  part  by  the  chil- 
dren whom  He  has  given  you.  This  is  what  the 
Gospel  teaches  and  your  works  and  teachings, 
your  by-laws  and  Christian  characters,  as  a  noble 
band  of  workers,  all  prove  that  you  are  pitched 
tonight  about  the  Tabernacle  of  God,  and  that 
when  His  tent  moves  you  will  follow  it.  Moses 
tells  us  that  at  the  commandment  of  the  Lord 
the  Israelites  marched,  and  at  the  commandment 
of  the  Lord,  they  pitched  their  tents.  The  cloud 
of  His  presence  was  a  shadow  by  the  day  and 
a  light  by  night.  They  were  safe  with  this  Di- 
bine  Leadership. 

In  the  same  way  He  deals  with  us.     He  is 
still  present,  although  not  in  the  visible  cloud, 
to  shade  us  and  give  us  light,  but  He  is  present 
in  and  through  Jesus  Christ  who  dwells  in  our 
midst.      He   will   look   after   you,   mothers   and 
sisters,  who  with  tenderness  and  care  will  lead 
our  girls  and  young  women  away  from  the  dens 
of   vice   and   sin,   from  brothels   of   debauchery 
and  licentiousness,  into  the  paths  of  virtue  and 
holiness.     You  will  teach  them  those  lessons  of 
dignity  and  character,  and  teach  them  the  spirit 
and  works  of  our  blessed   religion,  which  will 
bring  them  unto  God  and  make  them  wise  unto 
salvation. 

"Isaac  pitched  his  tent  in  the  valley  of  Gerar 


200  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

and  dwelt  there."'  He  had  a  reason  for  so  doing. 
We  find  that  a  jealousy  had  sprung  up  between 
Abimelek,  the  Philistines,  and  Isaac  and  his 
followers.  They  could  no  longer  remain  near 
neighbors.  The  Philistines  had  filled  the  wells 
which  Abraham  had  dug  in  his  day,  and  in  many 
other  ways  they  were  annoying  the  righteous 
heart  of  Isaac. 

So  there  are  jealousies  today  that  spring  up 
among  God's  people,  and  they  cause  a  great 
deal  of  trouble.  These  troubles  must  be  settled 
in  some  way,  and  the  example  of  Isaac  is  now 
and  always  before  us.  You  will  not  wait  to  carr}^ 
out  the  purposes  of  such  evil  passions,  but  will 
cause  your  heart-tent  to  be  pitched  in  another 
direction. 

You  have  adopted  the  Lily  for  your  name. 
It  grows  in  the  valley.  It  is  the  symbol  of  Christ. 
It  represents  beauty  and  purity.  Christ  taught 
lis,  consider  the  lilies,  how  they  grow;  they  grew 
in  their  loveliness  under  the  sunshine  and  show- 
ers which  God  sent  them.  They  fulfilled  their 
mission.  The  Master  told  us  that  Solomon,  in 
all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one  of  these 
rsimple  little  flowers,  and  so  it  was,  the  heart 
may  be  so  arrayed,  but  not  the  body.  The  lily 
is  an  emblem  of  the  purity  of  God  Himself.  You 
have  chosen  this  name.     "The  lilies  of  the  val- 


SEKMONS  JOI 

lev."  as  your  name  and  title,  and  it  should  make 
vou  as  the  hand-maidens  of  the  Lord,  tender, 
pure,  strong,  noble,  Christ-like;  no  anger,  jeal- 
ousy, hatred,  and  like  passions  should  be  permit- 
.ted  to  dwell  in  your  hearts  for  one  moment, 
,and  my  advice  to  all  the  members  present,  is  that 
you  should  go  into  this  or  some  other  similar 
society,  for  these  dear  sisters  have  pitched  their 
.tents  in  the  valley  of  Christianity,  and  not  only 
that,  but  thank  God,  they  are  dwelling  there. 
Yes,  they  have  pitched  their  tent  in  the  valley 
.among  the  lilies.  They  are  humble  and  meek. 
They  are  willing  to  do  the  little  things  for  God 
and  humanity.  They  are  willing  to  be  his  hum- 
blest servants.  They  have  planted  the- lilies  in 
itheir  hearts.  They  are  living  like  the  lilies,  I 
Irust. 

I  compliment  and  congratulate  you  for  the 
:splendid  work  which  you  have  done  during  the 
year  just  closed.  Your  faith  is  proven  by  your 
•works,  and  your  works  are  the  fruit  of  the  Tree 
of  Life.  We  shall  know  the  tree  by  its  fruits. 
You  are  devoting  your  time  and  energies  to 
God  along  new  lines  of  thought  and  service,  and 
new  fields  of  usefulness  are  opening  up  before 
Tou.  It  is  always  the  case  when  God's  children 
are  earnestly  seeking  to  do  his  will,  He  will 
Head  them  into  oreater  fields  of  usefulness.     I 


202  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

bid  you  Godspeed.  The  army  of  God  is  hard 
on  the  march.  There  are  many  trials  and  tribu- 
lations, but  God  is  our  Captain,  and  He  will  lead 
us  to  grand  victories. 

Abimelek  and  the  PhiHstines  have  gone  to 
their  place.  Moses,  the  servant  of  God,  was 
succeeded  by  Joshua,  and  Joshua,  by  another 
as  leader,  and  so  God  has  been  marching  with 
His  people  through  all  the  ages,  leading  them 
from  one  victory  to  another,  into  the  very  land 
of  Promise,  on  the  other  side  of  Jordan.  Study 
the  history  of  God's  people,  follow  the  example 
of  these  illustrious  leaders,  do  not  fear,  do  not 
fret,  but  ever  march  along  the  Highway  of  the 
King.  Ever  take  the  name  of  Jesus  with  you. 
P^tch  your  tent  always  in  the  valley  of  Chris- 
tianity and  toward  Heaven.  Always  dwell  in  the 
right  place,  and  move  in  the  right  direction,  and 
at  last  you  will  wear  the  white  robe  of  the  right- 
eousness of  Jesus  Christ  your  Lord.  Let  this 
passage  of  Scripture  be  closely  inscribed  on  your 
hearts,  and  Grace  be  unto  you  from  Him  who 
was  and  is  and  is  to  come. 

"Unto  Him  who  hath  loved  us  and  washed  us 
in  His  blood,  and  made  us  kings  and  priests,  unto 
God  the  Father,  to  Him  be  glory  and  dominion 
now  and  forevermore.  Amen." 


SERMONS  ii'? 


Christ's  Ascension. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  while  he  blessed  them  he  was 
parted  from  them  and  carried  into  heaven." — Luke  15  :5r. 

The  coming  of  the  Lord  to  the  nations  of  the 
earth  was  not  that  He  might  advertise  Himself 
as  a  candidate  for  some  high  office  among  the 
nations,  or  in  the  nation  to  which  he  belonged. 
He  came  not  as  the  Jews  expected  Him,  for 
they  were  looking  for  some  temporal  ruler  who 
would  re-establish  their  temporal  kingdom  on 
the  earth.  Their  idea  was  that  some  man  would 
come  and  sit  on  the  throne  of  David.  Their 
dream  was  that  the  Hebrew  people  would  be 
formed  into  the  most  powerful  nation  on  the 
earth,  and  that  in  some  mysterious,  some  mystic 
way,  this  great  feat  would  be  accomplished. 
God's  own  chosen  people  at  that  time  had  prac- 
tically no  spiritual  conception  of  what  the  King- 
dom of  God  meant.  The  disciples  of  Christ 
most  frequently  misconstrued  His  teachings  on 
this  subject.  The  case  of  Nicodemus  is  an  illus- 
trious example  of  the  spiritual  misconception 
of  the  Jews. 

Christ  came  on  a  special  mission,  the  saving 
of  the  lost,  the  saving  of  man.  He  is  therefore 
represented  as  the  Lamb  that  taketh  away  the 
sin  of  the  world.  When  John,  the  Baptist  saw 
Him  coming  towards  him,  walking  on  the  shore 


^•4  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 


of  the  river  Jordan,  he  exclaimed,  ''Behold,  the 
Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world.''  This  spiritual  work  of  Christ  is  un- 
changed. He  will  rule  until  the  kingdoms  of 
this  world,  become  the  kingdom  of  God. 

"He  came  unto  His  own  and  His  own  re- 
ceived him  not,"  we  read,  because  He  did  not 
come  doing  the  temporal  work  which  they  ex- 
pected Him  to  do,  but  He  came  unto  His  own, 
and  in  a  grand  sense  it  was  through  this  coming, 
that  the  world  has  received  a  true  conception  of 
this  Kingdom,  and  millions  of  hearts  have  ex- 
perienced thi^  Kingdom  set  up  in  these  hearts. 
The  Kingdom  of  God  is  within  you,  and  as 
lieaven,  it  will  work  in  and  through  you,  until 
you  are  entirely  made  spiritual.  Christ  has  ever 
"been  the  Light  of  the  Word.  He  inspired  our 
Pilgrim  Fathers;  He  was  the  friend  of  the  poor 
Samaritans;  He  sought  and  saved  the  needy, 
poor  and  sinning  of  His  day.  Indeed,  the  human 
founders  of  His  Kingdom  on  the  earth  were  the 
ignorant  fishermen  of  Galilee.  The  law  came 
through  Moses,  but  grace  and  truth  by  Jesus 
Christ.  His  presence.  His  revelation.  His  mani- 
festation, His  power.  His  goodness,  thrilled  the 
angels  when  they  sang,  ''Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  on  earth  peace,  good-will  to  men."  We 
.are  here  to  laud  and  to  praise  Him,  and  to  say 


SERMONS  -O- 


as  the  Scriptures  say,  "Blessed  is  the  womb  that 
bare  thee  and  the  paps  that  gave  thee  suck." 

Sir  Knights,  we  congratulate  you  on  this  noble 
spirit  of  acknowledging  the  ascension  of  Jesus 
Christ.  We  are  here  not  to  talk  about  the  mys- 
tic ties  which  bind  you  together  as  a  noble  band 
of  brothers,  but  to  honor  and  glorify  Him  who 
rose  from  the  dead  that  our  life  and  immortality 
might  be  brought  to  light.  You  have  come  from 
your  asylum  to  this  tabernacle  that  you  may  pay 
tribute  to  this  ascension,  the  ascension  day  of 
the  King  of  Kings.  As  Christ  climbed  the 
rugged  hill  of  Calvary  that  He  might  set  the 
captives  free  so  we  have  climbed,  as  weary  pil- 
grims, the  holy  mount  of  privilege  that  we  might 
view  the  landscape  o'er  of  our  hberty  on  this 
and  that  side  of  Jordan.  Let  us  raise  our  ban- 
ners and  wield  our  swords  for  the  defense  of 
our  country,  and  our  helpless  women  and  chil- 
dren. Let  us  be  valiant  soldiers  not  only  of  our 
own  teaching  as  knights,  but  also  of  the  Cross 
of  Jesus  Christ.  We  can  know  but  one  real 
captain;  we  can  follow  but  one  real  leader;  we 
can  march  in  but  one  army;  we  can  have  but 
one  victory ;  these  are  all  in  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

When  Jesus  arose  from  the  dead,  He  met 
Llis  disciples  and  blessed  them,  and  having  com- 
pleted His  mission  on  earth,  He  went  on  High, 


206  OIT  OF  THE    BRIARS 

but  He  has  drilled  us  as  He  drilled  those  dis- 
ciples ;  He  has  left  us  human  leaders  in  His 
name  and  with  His  authority,  and  to  us  He 
said,  ''If  ye  would  be  my  disciples,  deny  your- 
selves, take  up  your  cross  and  follow  me."  His 
work  on  earth  is  done,  excepting  through  you 
and  me,  the  human  agency  which  He  employs. 
He  is  doing  His  work  at  the  right  hand  of  His 
Father's  throne  that  we  may  be  able  here,  to 
come  off  more  than  conquerors  through  Him. 
He  passed  through  the  scenes  of  Gethsemane, 
He  died  on  the  cross  of  Calvary ;  He  descended 
into  hell  or  Hades  that  He  might  taste  death 
for  every  man,  and  forty  days  after  the  resur- 
rection, He  ascended  on  High.  He  went  up  on 
the  pinions  of  the  clouds  until  they  received  Him 
out  of  their  sight.  Then  two  men  stood  by  the 
disciples  wdio  w^ere  gazing  into  heaven  and  said 
to  them,  ''Why  stand  ye  gazing  into  heaven,  as 
ye  see  Him  go  up  ye  shall  see  Him  likewise 
come  down  again."  You  have  heard  of  Zerub- 
abel,  you  have  met  Darius  and  Cyrus,  the  Great, 
you  have  seen  Jesus  Christ  ascending;  those 
great  men  will  not  return,  but  Jesus  will  come 
again  to  take  you  with  Him  in  the  next  ascen- 
sion. He  will  not  come  again  as  the  victim  of 
pagan  hostilities  or  Jewish  persecution,  but  He 
is    coming   without    sin    unto    salvation    as    the 


SERMONS  2tt7 


Spoiler  of  the  grave,  the  conqueror  of  the  world, 
the  hero  who  conquered  hell,  and  will  lead  us 
to  victory  over  Satan  and  his  forces." 

The  Gospel  and  the  Word  are  preached  to  you 
because  you  dwell  in  His  secret  place;  thus  you 
are  abiding-  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty, 
stay  with  Him,  fight  on  through  the  conflict, 
the  battle  may  be  fierce,  but  you  shall  win.  You 
see  the  triumph  from  afar,  your  faith  is  your 
power.  God  the  All-Glorious  One  is  with  you, 
for  remember  that  when  star  will  shine  no  more 
unto  star,  and  planet  cease  to  revolve  around 
planet,  when  flowers  fade  to  bloom  no  more, 
the  Word  of  our  God  endureth  forever.  Heaven 
is  His  throne  and  earth  His  footstool,  and  we 
are  His  children. 

I  exhort  you  therefore  to  take  Him  more  than 
ever  before,  as  the  ]\Ian  of  your  counsel,  the 
friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother. 

He  has  gone  to  prepare  a  place  for  you  that 
where  He  is  there  ye  may  be  also. 

''Unto  Him  who  hath  loved  us  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood,  be  glory 
and  dominion  now  and  evermore." 

There  is  death  in  the  pot. — II  Kings  4 :40. 

In  the  year  895  B.  C.,  in  Syria,  a  certain 
woman  resided.  She  was  the  wife  of  Obadiah, 
a  devoted  companion,  a  good,  genial  spirit ;  she 


208  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

was  a  model  wife,  but  misfortune  overtook  her, 
and  the  bright  days  of  prosperity  and  enjoy- 
ment passed  under  the  dark  clouds  of  adversity. 
The  pleasant  fragrance  from  the  flowers  faded 
and  her  husband  too  had  passed  to  the  bourne 
from  whence  none  returns. 

She  is  now  a  widow  left  to  contend  against 
the  hard  and  unsympathizing  world. 

"Trouble  like  a  gloonw  cloud 
Gathered   fast   and   thundered   loud." 

Her  husband  and  father  was  God  above.  Her 
old-time  friends  who  knew  and  recognized  her 
in  her  prosperity,  now  passed  her  by  unnoticed. 
Adversity  makes  a  great  change  in  friendship. 
It  renders  friends,  strangers,  and  breaks  asunder 
the  dearest  ties.  These  friends  were  willing  to 
see  her  suffer  and  her  children  torn  from  her 
side  and  sold  into  slavery  that  her  debts  might 
be  paid.  There  was  no  helping-  hand,  no  money 
to  loan,  no  salvation  from  this  awful  condition, 
no  one  to  become  her  surety,  but  above  all  this 
darkness  of  night  and  of  cloud,  God  was  dwell- 
ing, and  watching.  He  never  forsakes  His  own, 
He  may  seem  to  do  so,  but  never,  never. 

God  sent  His  servant  Elisha  to  her  and 
through  him  relieved  her  of  all  her  troubles. 
Elisha  was  a  mighty  man  of  God.  He  had  re- 
ceived the  mantle  of  Elijah  and  was  a  student 


sKinroNs  209 

under  him.  He  was  full  of  wisdom  and  under- 
standing, going  about  in  the  spirit  of  Jehovah 
serving  the  people,  instructing  them,  leading 
them  to  higher  Hfe,  and  making  them  acquaint- 
ed with  God  and  His  ways. 

Elisha  during  a  famine  had  the  people  to  gath- 
er herbs  that  their  hunger  might  be  relieved. 
Among  those  herbs  which  were  thrown  into  the 
pot,  there  was  some  poisonous  herb  which  some 
one  had  gathered  by  mistake,  it  too  was  thrown 
in.  In  the  boiling  of  these  together,  the  poison 
was  spread  through  the  pot.  When  they  began 
eating  the  vegetable  soup,  the  poison  was  dis- 
covered, Ehjah  was  informed  and  destroyed  its 
bad  effect. 

It  is  well  for  us  to  note  that. 

I.  The  world  is  the  pot. 

The  world  has  been  cursed  by  sin.  There  is 
in  it  both  the  good  and  the  bad,  both  food  and 
poison.  God  has  placed  us  in  the  world  that 
we  may  as  Christians,  do  the  work  which  Elisha 
did  in  his  day.  When  we  look  about  us,  how 
many  people  we  see  who  have  been  poisoned. 
There  are  murderers,  suicides,  thieves,  robbers^ 
liars,  all  these  are  acting  in  the  way  they  act 
and  live,  because  they  have  in  them  poison.  It 
is  well  for  us  to  understand  that  we  need  not 
expect  in  this  world  to  find  the  good  unmixed 


210  OUT  OF  THE  BKIAR8 


from  the  evil.  Christ  prayed  that  God  would 
not  take  His  own  out  of  the  world,  but  that  He 
would  keep  them  from  the  evil  in  the  world,  and 
we  are  taught  in  the  prayer  called  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  "Lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliv- 
er us  from  evil."  As  God's  children,  we  cannot 
mix  with  the  children  of  this  world.  We  cannot 
allow  the  amusements  of  this  world  and  its 
allurements  to  lead  us  away  from  God  and  His 
Kingdom.  AVe  are  in  the  world,  but  not  of  it. 
We  are  but  pilgrims,  passing  through,  on  the 
way  to  the  country  of  God,  but  all  that  we  are 
and  have  are  in  this  world,  just  as  all  the  herbs 
were  thrown  into  the  pot,  but  there  is  also 
poison  there.  Is  there  any  pleasure,  without 
its  tinge  of  pain?  Is  there  any  hope  without 
the  presence  of  a  cloud?  Is  there  any  expecta- 
tion without  some  kind  of  a  disappointment? 
But  Christ  is  our  Elisha.  The  poison  in  the  pot 
can  be  removed  and  He  will  remove  it  for  us. 
The  pleasures  of  the  world  may  be  rendered 
sweet  and  pure.  The  work  of  this  world  can  be 
raised  to  the  highest  dignity.  The  powder  of 
this  world  may  be  turned  to  the  highest  good 
of  all.     A\  e  are  not  left  helpless  and  hopeless. 

TI.  The  temptations  of  the  world  are  the  fire 
under  the  pot.  , 

The  question  of  temptations  is  a  very  interest- 


SERMONS  211 


ini;-  one,    for   the   Christian.       There   are   many 
who  find  their  greatest  trouble  in  temptations. 
They  are   not  able  to   distinguish  a   temptation 
from  a  sin,  and  confusing  them,  they  look  upon 
themselves  as  very  great  sinners,  because  they 
have   very   great   temptations.      This   is   a   false 
idea.     A  temptation  is  a  trial.     x\ll  temptations 
are  not  evil.     There   are  also  temptations   that 
lead  us  to  noble  action.     God  is  not  tempted  of 
evil,  neither  does  He  tempt  to  evil,  but  He  does 
tempt  us  to  the  good,  and  indeed.  He  permits 
Satan   to   ply   us   with   temptations,   and   we  by 
overcoming  these  temptations  may  grow  strong 
and  pure. 

Christ,  the  sinless  man,  was  in  the  w^orld,  full 
of  temptations,  but  He  overcame  them.  His 
temptations  were  genuine,  they  w^ere  sinful,  they 
would  have  proven  destructive,  but  He  over- 
came them  and  He  overcame  them  without  sin. 

It  matters  not  what  the  temptation  may  be, 
however  dark  and  sinful,  it  is  with  you  as  to  the 
result  of  that  temptation  in  your  life. 

"Yield   not   to   temptation, 
For  yielding  is  sin." 

It  is  the  yielding  that  is  sin.  Resist  the  devil, 
and  he  will  flee  from  you.  Make  friends  of 
him  and  he  ,will  live  with  you.  He  will  become 
a  part  of  you,  he  will  drag  you  down,  he  will 
work  vour  destruction. 


212  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

How  often  we  realize  that  dark,  sinful 
thoughts,  pass  through  our  minds.  They  are 
sins  like  a  black  cloud,  sweeping  over  the  beauti- 
ful landscape  of  the  soul.  Well,  does  this  con- 
stitute sin?  By  no  means.  It  is  only  when  these 
thoughts  remain  in  the  mind,  when  we  harbor 
them,  when  we  become  fond  of  them ;  this  is 
what  forms  sin  in  the  soul.  It  is  your  work  to 
expel  them,  to  drive  them  out,  to  hate  them. 

Paul  said,  When  I  would  do  good  evil  is  pres- 
ent with  me.  How  true  this  is  with  us  today. 
Even  in  our  holiest  exercises,  such  as  prayer, 
praise,  worship,  sin  is  found  lurking  in  our  as- 
pirations after  God.  Selfishness  enters  our  pray- 
ers, selfishness  frequently  inspires  our  holiest 
hopes,  selfishness  poisons  our  love,  doubt  weakens 
our  faith,  and  so  we  find  in  our  religion  and  its 
life,  the  element  of  sin.  This  is  the  death  in  the 
pot. 

So  the  whole  Bible  deals  with  the  problem 
of  sin.  The  plan  of  salvation  is  simply  the  plan 
for  removing  sin  from  within  and  from  without 
us.  The  mission  of  Christ  is  to  save  the  sinner 
from  his  sins.  Frequently  Christians  get  the  idea 
that  salvation  is  to  bring  us  at  last  to  Heaven; 
well,  that  is  in  a  manner  true,  but  remember  that 
is  the  last  work  of  salvation,  bringing  us  to 
Heaven.      Salvation    deals    with    thousands    of 


SKRMONS  -M3 


things  in  our  lives  here,  before  we  are  ready  for 
Heaven.  And  indeed  we  can  never  enter  Heaven 
with  sin  in  our  natures.  Sin  must  be  rooted  out 
here  in  some  manner.  So  we  have  our  Elisha, 
he  can  and  does  remove  the  death  from  the  pot. 
He  is  the  bread  of  Hfe,  the  water  of  hfe,  in 
which  there  is  no  poison. 

I  beg"  you,  therefore,  to  take  this  text  with 
you.  Ponder  over  its  deep  meaning.  Apply  its 
truths  to  your  own  life,  come  to  our  Elisha  that 
He  may  remove  the  death  from  your  pot.  Try 
and  understand  the  deep  meaning  of  your  re- 
ligion and  that  it  is  a  rule  of  life  for  every-day 
living.  That  it  furnishes  you  with  the  w^isdom 
and  the  power  to  overcome  all  the  sin  within 
}'ou  and  all  the  temptations  without  you.  There- 
fore watch  and  pray.  Be  diligent  in  season  and 
out  of  season  and  put  your  trust  in  your  Elisha, 
and  He  wall  make  all  things  work  together  for 
your  good.     This  is  His  promise. 


The  Reward  of  the  Righteous. 

"For  ye  are  not  as  yet  come  to  the  rest  and  to  the  in- 
lieritance  which  the  Lord  your  God  giveth  you." — Deut. 
12  -.g. 

A  description  of  Paradise  is  always  acceptable 

to  the  humble  believer.     He  is  seeking  the  rest, 

the   inheritance,   which   God   has   so   abundantly 


214  (3UT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

promised  in  His  word.  So  our  God  has  not 
omitted  to  give  us  glimpses  of  this  Heavenly  rest. 
We  have  gathered  together  our  own  sweet  bun- 
ile  of  sentiments  regarding  it.  They  are  evei 
a  blooming  garden  of  flowers  by  our  pathway. 
We  are  to  so  live  that  we  may  daily  prepare  for 
this  Home  of  the  Soul.  Hezekiah  was  ordered 
to  set  his  house  in  order.  He  was  reminded 
that  he  would  soon  be  called  to  enter  into  this 
rest  prepared  for  the  people  of  God.  He  had 
something  to  do  first,  however — to  set  his  house 
in  order. 

Wg  sadly  realize  that  in  the  study  of  this 
deep  question  our  knowledge  of  that  country 
which  is  our  eternal  home,  can  be  but  faint.  Paul 
saw  something  of  its  glory  but  would  not 
undertake  to  describe  it.  And  the  glowing  de- 
scriptions which  John  gives  us  in  his  Revelation, 
are  most  difficult  to  understand.  They  are  fig- 
ures, they  are  poorly  drawn  pictures,  outlines, 
photographs,  of  that  Celestial  Clime  and  its 
Holy  Inhabitants.  But  it  confirms  our  hopes, 
invigorates  our  strength,  ennobles  our  efforts. 
Then  let  us  study  today  something  and  some- 
what of  this  Happy  Land. 

I.  The  Character  of  the  Reward,  the  Inheri- 
tance. 

The  Israelites  were  worn  and  weary,  with  the 


SKKMONS  21-» 


desert  journey.  For  forty  years  they  had  been 
wanderers,  pilgrims,  in  a  land  of  sand,  rocks, 
barren  waste  and  mountains.  God  so  blessed 
them  that  their  garments  did  not  wear  out,  and 
He  gave  them  water  from  the  rocks  and  food 
from  Heaven  and  flesh  from  the  far  countries. 
But  this  was  not  enough.  They  had  been  pro- 
mised a  land  that  flowed  with  milk  and  honey,  a 
land  of  rest,  an  inheritance.  God  had  promised 
to  Abraham  that  He  would  give  them  the  land 
of  Canaan  for  a  possession,  and  that  it  should 
be  inherited  by  all  his  children  forever.  While 
this  .promise,  had.  been  made  centuries  before 
their  trials  in  the  Wilderness,  yet  God  had  not 
forgotten  His  pledge  and  His  people  had  not 
forgotten  His  promises.  The  great  encourage- 
ment which  Moses  always  brought  forward  that 
their  strength  might  be  renewed,  was  that  God 
had  made  them  a  promise  of  a  land  of  their  own. 
With  all  their  trials  and  disappointments,  their 
mistakes  and  their  failures,  their  doubts  and  per- 
plexities, God  was  with  them  and  the  Land  of 
Canaan  was  just  beyond  the  Jordan. 

It  is  well  for  us  to  keep  in  mind  the  journey  ot 
the  Israelites,  between  the  Red  Sea  and  the  Jor- 
dan ;  between  the  land  of  slavery  and  the  land 
of  liberty.  For  indeed  we  are  making  just  such  a 
journey   now.      We   are   on   the   march   to    our 


21Q  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

Heavenly  Canaan.  It  is  called  a  rest.  It  is  called 
an  inheritance.  \\^hat  blessed  descriptions  these 
are!     We  could  want  no  better. 

This  wilderness  of  sin  is  a  land  of  weariness. 
The  way  is  hard,  the  mountains  to  climb  are 
high.  The  rocks  which  cut  our  feet  are  many. 
The  loads  which  we  carry  cause  so  often  faint- 
ing, almost  death.  There  is  no  rest  here.  We 
have  temporary  resting  places  where  we  may  sleep 
and  refresh  ourselves.  But  the  day  comes,  and 
its  work,  its  weariness.  Even  in  our  religious 
lives  and  work,  we  experience  the  same  fatigue, 
we  are  exhorted  not  to  grow  weary  in  well  doing, 
not  to  faint  by  the  way,  why?  Because  we  are 
in  a  land  of  weariness,  of  toil,  of  exhaustion! 

'To  him  that  overcometh,  I  will  give  a  crown 
of  life.  To  him  that  overcometh,  I  will  make  a 
pillar  in  the  temple  of  my  God  and  they  shall  go 
out  no  more."  Our  abiding  place  there  will  be 
as  permanent  as  the  pillars  of  the  temple.  We 
cannot  be  removed.  Surely  we  will  not  want 
to  go  out  any  more.  We  will  be  satisfied  to  dwell 
in  the  temple  of  God  forever.  Then  it  is  called 
an  inheritance.  Our  children  inherit  our  pos- 
sessions. There  is  no  law  to  prevent  them  from 
coming  into  what  has  belonged  to  us.  It  is  their 
own  when  we  leave  it  by  every  right  of  human 
^nd  Divine  law. 


SERMONS  217 


II.  Our  Saviour  is  the  faithful  witness  of  this 
promised  land. 

Moses,  you  remember,  sent  spies  into  Canaan 
that  they  might  bring  back  a  report  of  the  land 
which  God  had  promised  to  Abraham  and  his 
descendants.  These  spies  returned.  Only  two, 
Caleb  and  Joshua,  brought  back  a  good  report. 
The  majority  report  was  very  discouraging  in- 
deed, so  much  so,  that  the  Israelites  turned  back 
.  again. 

There  are  many  in  this  world  who  have  a  bad 
report  of  the  Promised  Land  which  the  text 
tells  us,  is  to  be  our  rest  and  our  inheritance. 
\\'ill  you  listen  to  them?  If  so,  you  will  also 
turn  back  and  continue  wandering  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  sin.  Do  not  forget  that  Satan  is  one  of 
these  spies.  He  will  tell  you  false  things  re- 
garding your  religion,  your  brethren,  your 
Saviour,  your  God  and  Heaven.  This  is  his 
business.  He  is  always  at  it.  You  find  many 
Christians  who  do  not  think  much  about  Heaven, 
they  consider  it  a  dream,  they  contend  that  this 
is  their  Heaven,  hence  they  place  little  value  on 
all  the  reports  in  the  Bible  concerning  this  land. 
But  we  have  a  true  witness,  our  Joshua,  our 
lesus.  He  came  from  that  country.  He  knows 
its  hills  and  dells,  its  cHme,  its  fruits,  its  joys, 
:ats  eternal,  delights.     He  has  left  us  His  report. 


218  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

It  is  absolutely  true.  He  has  seen  and  heard  and 
tasted  and  He  speaks  as  a  true  witness.  He  said 
to  His  disciples  on  the  eve  of  His  departure,  "I 
go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you,  that  where  I  am, 
there  ye  may  be  also.  In  my  Father's  house  are 
many  mansions^,  if  it  were  not  so  I  would  have 
told  you."  "If  ye  believe  in  God,  believe  also  in 
me." 

God  liberated  His  people  from  Egypt.  He 
raised  the  iron  heel  of  oppression  from  the  necks 
of  His  people.  He  led  them  forth.  He  brought 
them  into  Canaan.  His  omniscience  guided 
them.  His  omnipresence  was  ever  with  them. 
He  brought  them  to  an  end  of  the  toil,  labor, 
dust,  pains,  weariness  of  the  wilderness  jour- 
ney. The  same  God  is  leading  us  to  a  much 
better  country.  In  this  country  there  are  no 
enemies,  as  there  were  in  Canaan.  No  battles 
will  be  fought,  no  sickness  will  be  endured,  no 
trials  to  pass  through,  no  fading  sunsets  and  fol- 
lowing dark  nights,  no  losses,  no  crosses,  for 
"All  the  former  things  are  passed  away,  behold, 
I  make  all  things  new." 

Jesus  says,  *T  am  the  living  bread  of  which  if 
any  man  eat,  he  shall  nevermore  hunger."  He 
has  broken  down  the  middle  wall  or  partition,  so 
that  we  can  enter  into  the  very  presence  of  God. 
Paul   speaks   of   His   work  when   he   says,   "By 


SERMONS  219 


whom   also   we   have   access   by    faith   into   this 
grace  wherein  we  stand  and  rejoice  in  the  hope 
of  the  glory  of  God."     Yes,  the  glory  of  God, 
that   glory   which    shall    be    reflected    from    oiir 
hearts  and  faces  when  we  stand  complete  before 
God.     John  says,  "It  doth  not  appear  what  we 
shall  be,  but  we  know  that  when  He  shall  ap- 
pear, we  shall  be  like  Him,  for  we  shall  see  Him 
as  He  is.     And  every  one  that  hath  this  hope  in 
him,  purifieth  himself  even  as  He  is  pure."    We 
shall  be  Hke  Him !    These  are  not  misty  descrip- 
tions of  our  rest  and  inheritance !    They  are  real 
photographs.     We  need  not  doubt,  we  need  not 
fear.     It  doth  not  appear  what  we  shall  be,  but 
in  that  beautiful  habitation  of  the  soul  we  will 
be  more  beautiful  than  the  beautiful  home  which 
God  has  prepared. 

HI.  But  this  rest  and  inheritance  will  be  the 
reward  of  the  faithful. 

We  should  not  deceive  ourselves  for  not  every 
one  will  enter.  There  are  many  in  this  world 
who  confidently  expect  to  enter  this  Heavenly 
Canaan,  but  they  have  no  passport.  If  you 
were  to  take  a  trip  through  Europe  and  Asia, 
it  would  be  necessar>^  for  you  to  procure  from 
the  proper  officials  of  this  country  a  passport, 
for  without  this  you  would  not  be  permitted  to 
go    through    these    countries.      You    would    be 


'220  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

looked  upon  as  some  kind  of  an  enemy.  The 
passports  to  Heaven  are  goodness  and  faithful- 
ness. Not  the  goodness,  however,  which  this 
world  creates  and  loves  and  prizes.  Christ  said 
to  the  young  nobleman  who  came  to  Him  and 
wanted  to  know  what  good  thing  He  could  do 
to  enter  the  kingdom  of  Heaven,  ''Why  callest 
thou  me  good,  there  is  none  good  but  God." 
This  young  man  said  that  he  had  kept  all  tlie 
•commandments  from  his  youth  up,  now  if  he 
had  done  that  and  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt  it, 
for  Christ  looked  on  him  and  loved  him,  then 
this  young  man  was  really  good  as  this  world 
calls  goodness ;  but  mark  you  he  did  not  enter 
the  Kingdom  of  God,"  for  he  went  away  very 
sorrowful,  for  he  was  very  rich.  Oh !  he  was 
very  rich ! 

He  had  his  own  little  heaven,  he  had  his  own 
little  bundle  of  goodness,  he  had  his  own  pass- 
port, but  these  did  not  suffice,  for  the  Kingdom- 
of  God.     These  were  of  no  value  in  this  King- 
dom. 

I  was  born  in  a  slave  state.  \A'hen  T  was  a 
little  boy,  my  mother  being  very  poor,  sent  me 
out  on  a  very  cold  day  to  the  river  bank  to  gather 
up  a  bundle  of  wood.  I  gathered  up  the  wood 
and  tied  it  into  a  bundle  and  placed  it  on  my 
head.     I   started  home.     It  was  a  large  bundle 


SERMONS 


and  grew  very  heavy  as  I  walked  along.     It  was 
painful  to  my  head  and  I  became  tired.     I  stag- 
gered under  the  burden,  I  thought  that  I  could 
not  reach  the  house,  but  I  kept  on.     At  last  I 
eot  home  and  almost  fainted.     But  what  a  re- 
lief  it  was  to  me  and  what  a  comfort  it  became 
to   my   mother.  '  As   we   sat   that  night  by   the 
crackling  fire,   I  thought,  well  it  was  worth  all 
it  cost  me.     The  pleasure  it  gave  my  mother, 
the  family,  and  satisfaction  it  gave  me  to  know 
that  I  had  done  this  and  all  were  now  enjoying 
it,  was  my  reward,  my  rest.     But  mark  you,  it 
was   the   reward  of   goodness   and   faithfulness. 
If  I  had  been  a  disobedient  boy,  would  I  have 
had  that  reward?     Would  I  have  had  that  en- 
joyment?    Would  I  have  had  the  approval  and 
the  love  of  my  mother?    Never,  never  I     So  it  is 
with  us  today.    We  must  carry  our  burdens,  and 
the  burdens  of  others.    We  have  always  a  double 
load    on    our  .  shoulders,    this    makes    it    doubly 
heavy.     Sometimes  w^e  nearly  faint  under  it,  the 
road  seems  to  have  no  end,  we  are  almost  tempt- 
ed to  throw  down  the  load,  but  can  we?     If  we 
really  desire  to  enter  that  beautiful  city  beyond 
the  river  of  death,  the  load  which  God  has  given 
us,  must  be  carried  to  the  very  end.     We  can 
drop  that  load  when  we  come  to  the  river,  when 
the  death  angel  tells  us  that  it  is  enough  and 
that  our  Father  wants  us  to  come  home. 


OUT  OF  THE    BRIARS 


Yuu  are  to  serve  your  brother-man,  you  are 
to  love  him,  to  pray  for  him,  and  to  love  and 
]:>ray  for  your  enemies.  This  is  the  load,  this 
is  the  work  that  is  to  be  done!  Without  the 
cross  there  is  no  crown,  without  the  weights 
there  are  no  wings,  without  the  prayers  there 
will  be  no  praises!  "Well  done,  good  and  faith- 
ful servant:  thou  hast  been  faithful  over  a  few 
things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things. 
Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord."  This  is 
the  welcome  plaudit.  Do  you  long  to  hear  that 
plaudit?  Then  be  faithful  today  and  tomorrow 
and    throughout   life. 

IV.  This  place  is  called  rest. 

After  the  victory  there  is  peace.  After  the 
labor  there  is  rest.  After  the  pain  there  is 
pleasure.  This  world  is  not  our  abiding  place, 
'•ur  peace-place.  As  long  as  man  lives  on  the 
earth  he  has  various  inducements  to  sin.  Enemies 
within  and  without  are  continually  organizing 
against  him.  Satan  is  seeking  to  devour  hirn 
with  lust  and  sin.  He  too  often,  alas !  renounces 
his  allegiance  to  his  God,  he  forgets  his  Saviour, 
he  turns  away  f.rom  the  practice  of  his  religion. 
Worldly  pleasures  allure  him,  they  deceive  him, 
they  intoxicate.  Ten  thousand  are  the  ways  of 
this  world  to  lead  the  humble  pilgrim  astray. 
The  Israelites  wandered  in  the  A\  ilderness  forty 


8KUMONS  223 


days,  but  it  was  only  a  seven  days  march  from 
Egypt  to  Canaan.  Why  did  they  wander?  Be- 
cause they  sinned.  The  flesh  is  lusting  against 
the  spirit  and  the  spirit  against  the  flesh.  When 
we  would  do  good  evil  is  present  with  us.  What 
a  mighty  conflict  this  life  of  wandering  is! 

But  blessed  be  God  there  are  no  haunts  of 
innocent  ( ?)  amusement  to  entice  you  from  pure 
holiness,  in  Heaven!  No  dens  to  rob  men  and 
women  of  their  virtue,  no  pit-falls  of  saloons 
and  gambling  hells  to  lead  astray  the  holy  in- 
habitants of  that  land  of  rest,  none  of  these  things 
are  to  be  found  there!  The  ungodly  rich  man, 
the  oppressor  of  the  poor,  the  robber,  the  thief, 
these  are  all  cast  into  the  lake  where  the  worm 
dieth  not  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched.  There 
is  the  place  of  our  Eternal  Rest.  It  is  a  moun- 
tain where  heavenly  pastures  grow  and  the  rivers 
of  life  gently  flow.  It  is  here  that  we  shall  know 
as  we  are  known.  Here  ignorance  is  forever 
l3anished  and  we  see  face  to  face.  God  help  us 
to  enter  this  rest  and  to  obtain  this  inheritance. 


Our  Legacy. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you. — John   14:2;. 

Dear  Brethren,  in  entering  upon  the  work  of 
this  district  two  years  ago  I  found  that  the  ship 
had  sprung  a  leak,  the  sails  were  furled,  many 


224  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

of  the  crew  had  deserted  the  ship  and  left  her  to 
the  mercy  of  the  waves.  There  seemed  to  be  a 
heavy  cloud  over  the  church,  her  banners  had 
been  trailing  in  the  dust.  I  look  back  and  almost 
shudder  and  wonder  what  would  have  been  the 
fate  of  the  church  had  things  drifted  on  as  I 
found  them.  I  wonder  if  there  were  any  here 
wlio  at  that  time  would  have  believed  our  report 
and  to  whom  the  arm  of  the  Lord  would  ^have 
been  revealed.  I  ask  the  question  now,  shall  the 
church  in  Trenton  sink,  shall  her  doors  be  closed, 
shall  her  banner  be  dust  covered?  No,  never, 
so  long  as  God  says  'Thou  shalt  live."  So  like 
Paul  at  Athens  I  take  courage  and  preach  the 
Gospel  to  you  that  your  strength  may  increase 
and  your  faith  grow  stronger. 

Bro.  Joseph  Long  was  the  first  man  I  saw,  to 
whom  I  delivered  my  message.  He  said  go 
ahead,  my  son,  sound  the  trumpet  and  we  will 
rally  to  the  standard  though  the  host  of  hell 
surround  us.  I  accepted  the  situation,  seeing 
that  there  was  a  great  field  of  usefulness  before 
me.  I  saw  and  felt  my  inability  to  do  any  good 
or  to  be  of  any  service  to  the  church  unless  God 
was  with  me.  So  I  consecrated  myself  anew  to 
God  and  made  a  complete  surrender.  My  own 
capabilities  united  with  yours,  we  brought  our 
forces  into  line  and  began  the  battle  which  you 


SEK^rONS 


have  fought  so  nobly  and  bravely  against  every 
obstacle.  You  have  been  faithful  soldiers,  and 
may  be  called  veterans  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
The  enemy  has  been  many  times  defeated  and 
many  victories  have  been  won  and  the  cause  has 
been  greatly  advanced,  but  the  time  of  our 
separation  is  drawing  nigh,  our  communions  will 
soon  cease,  they  have  been  very  sweet  and  pre- 
cious to  me,  very  helpful,  your  kindness  has  been 
like  the  bud  on  the  tree  continually  swelling,  and 
blossoming  for  my  own  pleasure  and  profit.  Like 
David,  we  iiave  cried  from  the  bottom  of  our 
hearts.  How  long,  O  Lord,  How  long  shall  the 
wicked  reign?  Save  thy  people,  bless  thine  in- 
heritance, feed  and  lift  them  up  for  ever.  You 
have  proven  your  loyalty  to  the  church  at  large, 
your  efficiency  in  the  church  here,  I  commend 
your  integrity,  3^our  faithfulness.  Y^our  warm 
hearts  have  beat  continually  for  the  success  of 
the  church  during  this  pastorate. 

The  old  heroes  have  gone  home  to  their  re- 
ward. Their  seats  are  vacant,  their  work  is  com- 
plete but  we  have  entered  into  their  labors  and 
their  memor}^  is  still  precious  among  us.  They 
are  still  with  us  in  spirit,  they  are  looking  down 
from  the  battlements  of  glory  and  are  witness- 
ing our  race  here  below.  They  have  been  de- 
scribed as  a  cloud  of  witnesses.     Therefore  we 


22-6  OUT  OF  THK  BHIARS 

are  to  lay  aside  every  weight  and  the  sin  that 
doth  so  easily  beset  us  and  run  with  patience 
the  race  that  is  set  before  us.  Their  skill  and 
bravery  we  should  imitate,  their  example  we 
should  copy,  their  life  of  service  we  should  re- 
lieve. Oh  !  Could  many  of  those  old  warriors 
awake  from  their  graves  and  revisit  old  Mt. 
Zion  and  stand  on  her  battleground,  to  tell  us 
of  the  contests  through  which  they  had  .passed 
and  to  show  us  the  scars  which  they  had  received 
while  fighting  the  battle  of  the  Lord,  how  often 
they  have  witnessed  the  going  and  coming  of 
ministers,  having  listened  to  their  sad  farewells, 
I  am  sure  that  we  would  take  courage  today  and 
rejoice  that  we  are  a  part  of  that  grand  pro- 
cession, some  of  which  are  now  in  glory,  some 
of  which  are  crossing  and  some  of  which  are 
still  on  this  side.  These  old  veterans  of  glory 
are  not  'here  to  shake  our  hands ;  they  have  risen 
from  the  bloody  battlefield  of  earth  to  the  sun 
lit  hills  of  eternity  and  have  washed  their  robes 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
Some  that  I  met  two  years  ago  are  not  here 
tonight  to  shake  our  hands,  to  be  with  us  in  this 
farewell  exercise,  where  are  they?  Where  is 
father  Crusen  and  Sister  Layten,  Tolson,  Phin- 
ley,  Reley  and  Rachel  Conover.  Young  men,  I 
ask  you  tonight  where  is  Enoch  Limehouse,  Jim- 


SERMONS  227 


mie  A'room  and  others  of  your  companions? 
Parents  and  Sabbath  School  teachers,  I  ask  you 
where  are  the  Scotts,  the  Sees  and  Lily  Wright 
and  others  whom  I  met  here  two  years  ago? 
They  have  gone  down  to  the  grave,  they  are 
mouldering  in  their  graves.  But  this  shattered 
Mt.  Zion  church  is  the  same  now"  as  then,  a  few 
pillars  are  left.  Brothers  Long,  Johnson,  Fisher, 
Jones,  Ward,  Ayers,  Charna,  Sisters  Long, 
Ward,  Ferine,  Hall,  Scroden,  Hutchens,  Lewis, 
Harriet,  Charmer,  and  a  host  of  others,  we  have 
stood  together  through  these  years  and  are  one 
tonight  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  Our  spirits  have 
shared  each  other's  burdens,  each  other's 
sorrows,  we  have  mingled  our  tears. 

Your  Christian  advice,  tender  care,  loyal 
friendship,  all  these  have  helped  me  on  my  way 
to  the  better  land.  You  have  performed  your 
part  well,  a  uniform  desire  to  contribute  to  the 
harmony  of  all.  Your  zeal  for  the  growth  of 
the  church  when  it  seemed  to  be  dying,  your 
constant  watching  for  its  highest  welfare,  have 
often  caused  me  to  say,  'T  was  glad  when  they 
said  to  me,  let  us  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord." 
Although  we  separate  here  in  sorrow  we  will 
meet  in  a  place  where  sorrow  is  unknown.  Do 
you  promise  to  meet  me  there?  March  on,  ye 
Soldiers  of  the  Cross,  be  not  afraid,  God  is  your 


228  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

helper,  He  will  not  desert  you !  Keep  your  eyes 
on  the  city  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God. 
Do  not  grow  weary  in  well-doing  nor  faint  by 
the  way. 

Christ  said,  My  peace  I  leave  with  you.  I  can 
say  my  blessings  I  leave  with  you.  Let  us  pray 
for  each  other  and  look  forward  to  the  time 
when  we  shall  meet  to  part  no  more.     Farewell  i 


%^ 


Arttfle0  mxh  Ol0«trtbutt0tt0 


Artirlra  nnh  (fiinitrtlntttoua 


An  Echo  to  the  Manager's  Call. 
Mr.  Editor:  In  your  issue  of  June  21,  1877,  an 
article  appears,  emanating  from  the  business 
manager,  indicating  trouble  ahead.  He  says  that 
from  the  very  fact  of  the  editor  receiving  two 
letters  to  his  one,  and  the  supporters  of  our  pub- 
lishing department  placing  the  major  portions  of 
their  communications  on  the  wrong  current,  the 
most  pernicious  effect  is  designed  to  flow  through 
the  stream  of  intellectual  knowledge  gleaned 
from  the  columns  of  the  Christian  Recorder. 

I  have  only  to  ask  my  brethren,  Can  we,  as  pil- 
lars of  the  porch  that  leads  to  the  great  temple 
of  African  Methodism,  sit  still  on  our  easy  chair 
and  hear  such  powerful  peals  of  thunder  ringing 
through  our  ears,  constantly  coming  from  the 
subverting  clouds  now  overhanging  our  man- 
ager's head? 

Let  us  burst  loose  the  bands  of  oppression, 
open  the.  prison  door  and  set  the  captive  free. 
Give  the  manager  a  fair  start  in  the  race,  and 
then  if  he  die  (as  he  says  the  death  warrant  has 
been  served  on  others  who  had  charge  of  the 
concern),  let  us  bury  him  in  a  recreant's  grave. 


231 


•282  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

As  to  the  department  being  whittled  away  by  the 
ministry,  I  would  like  to  ask,  Mr.  Editor,  who  is 
responsible  for  that?  Is  there  not  a  prescribed 
mode  of  bringing-  these  would-be  men  to  justice? 
These  vipers  that  creep  through  the  money  till  of 
all  our  departments  and  from  their  atrocious 
dereliction  or  their  villainous  designs  to  defraud 
the  connection  out  of  what  is  rightfully  due  it? 
These  things  are  actually  undermining  the  foun- 
dation of  our  Church.  Put  them  between  the 
upper  and  lower  millstones  and  grind  them  as 
fine  as  powder.  Do  not  let  us  all  suffer  from  the 
effect  of  the  same  blow.  The  blow  the  Doctor 
struck  has  shocked  the  connection  like  a  mighty 
earthquake.  Now  the  question  goes  from  every 
loj^al  fort  along  the  line,  ''Who  are  these  whit- 
tlers  ?"  Again,  the  manager  says  there  is  a  wolf 
howling  about  the  door  of  his  sanctum,  and  that 
unless  there  be  sufficient  food  to  satisfy  his  de- 
mands, at  no  distant  date  there  will  be  a  burst  up. 
I  again  ask,  Cannot  this  eternal  howling  be 
stopped  ? 

Now,  the  manager  says  that  our  articles  of 
commendation  and  sweet  pats  on  the  shoulder, 
telling  him  to  go  ahead  with  the  engine  without 
anything  to  propel  it,  does  not  amount  to  much. 
He  wants  action — noble,  sublime.  Godlike  action 
— such  as  will  place  him  on  the  road  to  success. 
Then,  brethren,  let  us  act.    According  to  the  re- 


ARTICLES  AND   C<  )NTlUr.l  TloNS  2H:i 

port  made  at  the  General  Conference  of  1872,  we 
have  three  hundred  thousand  members,  seven 
thousand  preachers  in  our  connection.  Let  a  Sab- 
hath  be  set  apart  and  let  it  be  universally  known 
throughout  the  Church,  and  one-fourth  of  a  dol- 
lar be  collected  from  each  member.  This  would 
give  us  the  nice  little  sum  of  $75,000.  Say  that 
the  preachers  give  one  dollar  each,  including 
bishops,  managers,  editors  and  all  others,  which 
would  make  a  total  of  $82,000.  Would  not  this 
stop  the  howling  wolf  and  save  the  department? 
The  echo  is,  Yes !  Then,  brethren,  let  us  awake 
from  our  sleep.  Call  the  forces  to  the  front, 
wheel  into  line,  fire  on  the  enemy,  and  the  victory 
is  ours.  I  will  guarantee  one-fourth  of  a  dollar 
from  each  one  of  my  members,  and  not  only  one 
dollar  from  myself,  but  five,  at  whatever  time 
may  be  mentioned  as  a  day  for  this  purpose  in  the 
interests  of  the  Book  Concern. 

A.  H.  NEWTON. 
Algiers,  La.,  Jnly,  1877. 


The  Race  Problem  Solved  at  Asbury  Park. 

For  the  Christian  Recorder. 

New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  August  2,  1890. 
Mr.  Editor. 

Sir :  As  a  native  of  the  ''Old  North  State"  my- 
self, it  is  but  natural  that  I  should  feel  some  pride 


234  ot:t  of  the  briars 

in  every  honor  or  mark  of  respect  paid  to  her 
honored  sons;  and  yet,  sir,  when  I  see  metropoH- 
tan  papers,  whose  poHtics  are  not  very  favorable 
to  our  race,  teeming  with  praise  of  the  speeches 
made,  with  some  very  remarkable  quotations  of 
opposition  to  the  ''Force  Bill,"  or  apologizing  for 
certain  reasons  why  it  should  not  become  a  law ; 
when  I  see  certain  gentlemen  denied  by  those  in 
authority  not  especially  committed  to  our  side  of 
public  questions  regarding  our  interest,  it  is  but 
natural  that  some  of  us  should  become  alarmed 
lest  these  honors  are  received  and  bestowed  at 
the  terrible  expense  of  compromising  the  rights 
of  our  race. 

We  are  forced  to  believe  that  President  Gran- 
dison  must  have  committed  himself  w^ith  all  the 
force  of  his  eloquence  on  the  beach  at  the  park 
to  thirty  thousand  people  in  favor  of  the  Force 
Bill.  We  are  also  led  to  believe  that  our  popular 
friend  Dr.  Sampson  was  very  conservative  in  his 
Fourth  of  July  speech.  But  now  comes  out  one 
of  the  leading  illustrated  journals  with  all  the 
pictures  of  these  orators  of  the  Fourth  at  the 
park,  and  the  Doctor  is  made  to  say  if  a  colored 
man  is  discriminated  against  or  in  any  way  perse- 
cuted in  regard  to  his  rights,  that  it  ought  to 
stimulate  him  to  greater  effort  to  make  himself 
more  worthy,  and  to  not  only  make  himself  the 
equal,  but  the  superior  of  the  other  men.     With 


ARTICLES  AND   CONTRIBUTIONS 


Other  compromising  remarks,  and  after  several 
highly  pleasing  speeches  on  the  beach  to  the  mul- 
titudes from  the  hotels,  it  is  said  that  the  Doctor 
and  founder,  Bradley,  repaired  to  the  dining 
rooms  of  the  different  hotels  and  told  the  colored 
help  when  and  where  they  might  be  allowed  to 

bathe. 

Was  this  arrangement  made  by  the  Doctor 
with  Mr.  Bradley  for  the  colored  people?  Will 
these  two  North  Carolinians  answer  this  ques- 
tion? Were  they  paid  one  hundred  dollars  for 
these  speeches,  and  were  they  properly  quoted 
in  the  New  York  World?  I  mean  President 
Grandison,  of  Bennett  College,  as  to  his  views 
on  the  Force  Bill  delivered  at  the  park  or  else- 
where, and  also  Dr.  Sampson  on  the  Race  Prob- 
lem, delivered  on  the  grand  stand  on  the  Fourth 
of  July  at  the  park.  I  understand  that  my  old 
friend  did  say  that  a  Negro's  occupation  should 
not  be  above  that  of  a  servant,  for  he  must  know 
"well  how  to  discharge  the  duties  belonging  to 
this  sphere  before  he  is  able  to  meet  the  more 
responsible  duties  of  life.     I  ask  the  Doctor  if 

this  is  all  true. 

Yours  respectfully, 

A.  H.  NEWTON. 
31  French  Street,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 


23()  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

Intemperance. 

By  Miss  Ada  A.  Newton. 

Intemperance  is  a  fatal  evil.  What  are  felons, 
murderers  and  thieves  but  men  who  began  drink- 
ing but  moderately,  just  for  fashion  or  to  see 
how  it  tasted?  From  drinking  moderately  they 
go  on  taking-  a  little  more  each  time,  until  finally 
they  become  confirmed  drunkards.  How  com- 
mon it  is  to  hear  a  wife  say,  Ah !  He  was  a  good 
husband  before  he  began  drinking.  There  was 
nothing  he  thought  too  good  for  me.  How  we 
pity  the  drunkard's  wife  and  children !  The  little 
ones  are  made  to  suffer  for  the  doings  of  their 
father,  for  God  says  that  ''the  iniquities  of  the 
fathers  are  visited  upon  the  children  unto  the 
third  and  fourth  generation,  while  His  mercy  is 
shown  unto  thousands  that  love  Him  and  keep 
His  commandments."  How  careful,  then,  should 
all  be  to  guard  against  this  evil.  The  cup  that 
has  the  glow  of  ruby  at  last  biteth  like  a  serpent 
and  stingeth  like  an  adder. 

Let  us  give  an  illustration  that  all  may  see  the 
course  of  this  sin.  Here  is  a  rich  man  who  has 
a  son;  he  indulges  him  beyond  measure;  he 
teaches  him  in  youth  to  drink  wine.  At  first  he 
makes  a  wry  face  and  tells  his  father  that  he 
does  not  like  it  and  cannot  drink  it.  His  father 
scorns  and  ridicules  the  idea,  and  tells  him  that 


ARTK'LKS    AND    CONTRIBUTIONS  28" 


unless  he  drinks  some  he  will  never  become  a 
man.    So  the  little  fellow  drinks  because  it  is  his 
father's  desire  and  not  his  own.     He  soon  ac- 
quires a  thirst  for  the  poisonous  cup,  and  when 
he  comes  to  manhood's  estate  he  drinks  often  and 
freely.    At  last  he  drinks  too  much  and  becomes 
intoxicated — yes,  intoxicated!     This  is  his  first 
step  to  ruin;  the  habit  has  been  formed.     His 
father  is  now  much  mortified.     He  threatens  to 
disinherit  him  if  he  does  not  stop  drinking,  but 
it  is  too  late.    The  father  has  laid  the  foundation 
and  the  son  has  built  on  it,  and  neither  of  them 
is  now  able  to  undo  what  has  been  done  and  fixed 
into  a  habit.    His  mother  begs  him  to  never  again 
touch  the  deadly  drug.     For  her  sake  he  prom- 
ises and  takes  the  pledge.    There  is  great  rejoic- 
ing now.    His  father,  mother,  friends,  all  rejoice 
at  the  reclamation ;  the  son  has  reformed !     Yes, 
he  has  reformed.     His  eyes   lose  their  redness 
and  become  bright   and   lustrous.     He   attends 
diligently  to  his  business.    After  a  while  he  mar- 
ries.   Then  the  rejoicing  is  universal.    All  delight 
at  the  great  reformation.     But  alas !  how  frail  is 
human  nature.    Soon  after  his  marriage  he  meets 
at  the   tavern  his  old  chums.     He  has   perfect 
confidence  in  himself.     He  knows   he  will  not 
drink  again.     His  pride  asserts  itself.     His  old 
companions  are  gleeful  and  congenial;  they  ask 
him  to  drink.     He  pays  no  attention  to  them. 


2;-!S  oi'T  OF  THE    BRIAKS 

Then  they  sneer,  they  ridicule,  they  appeal  to  his 
manhood,  they  accuse  him  of  being  tied  to  his 
wife's  apron  strings.  To  prove  to  them  that  he 
is  not  all  that  they  declare,  he  takes  one  drink, 
then  another  and  another,  and  soon  he  is  beastly 
drunk.  Then  they  kick  him  out.  His  wife 
watches  for  him,  then  she  watches  over  him,  and 
he  does  not  return,  so  it  seems.  He  is  now^  de- 
tained on  business ;  he  has  an  engagement  at  the 
club,  at  the  lodge.  How  little  does  she  know 
how  soon  she  is  to  be  bowed  down  and  broken 
under  grief!  She  watches.  It  is  midnight;  she 
meets  him  at  the  door  with  a  glad  heart;  the 
sight  is  heart-sickening.  She  reels  and  faints. 
He  is  fearfully  intoxicated !  When  he  is  able  to 
reason,  she  reasons  with  him,  but  in  vain.  Down, 
down  he  goes  from  one  step  to  another^,  imtil 
from  a  large  mansion  he  brings  her  to  live  in  a 
cellar.  A\'ho  is  that  grinning  monster  the  boys, 
are  pelting  in  the  street?  And  who  is  that  ema- 
ciated creature  entreating  the  boys  to  let  the  mis- 
erable wretch  w^hom  she  calls  her  husband  go 
home?  The  once  noble  husband  and  the  once 
l)eautiful  wife!  What  has  brought  them  so  low? 
A\'hat  has  caused  her  misery,  her  anguish?  Rum, 
rum.  rum  ;  nothing  but  the  demon  RUM ! 

Oh,  young  man,  if  you  only  knew  the  harm 
that  the  social  glass  does  you,  the  misery  that  it 
brings,  the  death  that   follows,  you  would   cast 


ARTICLES  AND   CONTKIIU'TTONS  239 


away  the  poison  and  turn  from  it  now,  before  it 
is  eternally  to  late.    "Touch  not,  taste  not  the  un- 
clean  thing,   for   wine   is   a   mocker   and   strong- 
drink  is  raging." 
Algiers,  La. 


From  Arkansas. 

For  the  Christian  Recorder. 

Mr.  Editor:  You  have  not  heard  from  us  for 
several  months,  not  because  we  have  lost  inter- 
est, for  w^e  have  always  stood  among  the  active 
workers  of  the  Church,  but  w^e  have  been  very 
busy.  The  last  time  we  wrote  you  from  the 
South  we  w^ere  in  the  State  of  Tennessee. 

In  the  month  of  October  last  year  Bishop 
Brown  ordered  us  to  strike  our  tent  and  move 
to  Arkansas.  With  the  knapsack  of  faith  and  the 
musket  of  truth  we  came  aihd  engaged  in  the 
contest,  taking  charge  of  Little  Rock. 

The  Little  Rock  Conference  is  composed  of 
some  of  the  noblest  and  most  energetic  men  in 
the  Church.  They  work,  sing  and  fight  against 
Satan  like  men  of  war,  determined  to  conquer 
although  they  die  in  the  battle.  Elder  J.  T.  Jen- 
ifer, so  well  knowm  throughout  our  widespread 
connection  as  a  pioneer  of  African  IMethodism, 
erected  a  new  church  edifice  at  Little  Rock,  a 


240  OTT  OF  THK  BIUARS 

monument  that  can  never  be  forgotten,  and  to 
be  admired  by  unborn  generations.  Bishop 
Brown  and  J.  F.  A.  Sisson,  P.  E.,  contributed 
their  share  towards  the  construction  of  this 
model  of  beauty.  H.  H.  Petigrew,  P.  E.,  John 
A.  Jones,  S.  A.  Patten  and  R.  A.  Sinquefield  are 
the  pioneers  of  African  Methodism  in  this  State, 
and  their  labors  have  been  given  entirely  to  the 
Christian  Church.  Their  aitectionate  and  kind- 
hearted  spirits  draAv  every  one  near  to  them  in 
the  fullest  confidence,  and  none  can  but  love  and 
cherish  them. 

The  Conference  is  divided  into  eleven  districts 
and  is  cared  for  by  good  and  faithful  presiding 
elders  who  are  not  afraid  of  the  truth,  though 
dark  and  gloomy  clouds  oppose  them  on  every 
hand.  We  have  several  churches  in  course  of 
construction  in  this  State  which  will  be  orna- 
ments when  completed. 

In  Little  Rock  the  work  is  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition. We  are  preparing  to  hold  the  Confer- 
ence on  the  9th  of  November,  1876.  Bishop  T. 
M.  Ward  is  now  with  us  on  his  way  to  the  South 
Arkansas  Conference.  Our  church  is  not  yet 
completed,  and  we  are  about  four  thousand  dol- 
lars in  debt;  but,  thank  the  Lord,  we  were  suc- 
cessful in  paying  off  $1200  this  year.  We  have 
483  members,  who  say  that  they  are  determined 
to  succeed.    We  have  229  scholars  in  the  Sunday 


ARTICLES    AND    CONTRrBlTIONS  241 

School  and  25  officers  and  teachers.  We  have 
not  done  much  for  the  Recorder,  but  we  intend 
to  fall  into  line.  "Hold  the  fort,  for  we  are  com- 
ing!"    ("Yes,  but  hurry  up!") 

King  Cotton  has  a  powerful  influence  in  this 
State,  and  the  same  is  true  of  another  king — 
Alcohol.  There  are  113  rum  shops  in  Pine  Bluff 
and  108  in  Little  Rock.  Thousands  of  people 
are  inquiring  for  the  byways  to  hell,  and,  com- 
paratively speaking,  very  few  are  inquiring  the 
way  to  heaven.  Over  $1,000,000  are  spent  in 
this  State  annually  for  rum  and  tobacco. 

On  September  25th  we  visited  the  Conference 
of  Tennessee,  held  in  Pulaski^  where  we  met 
many  smiling  faces  and  hearts  and  enjoyed  a 
heartv  shake  of  many  hands. 

A.  H.  NEWTON. 

Little  Rock,  Ark.,  October  18,  1876.  _ 


Algiers,  La. 

Algiers  is  situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  about  one  hundred  miles  dis- 
tant from  the  Gulf.  It  is  connected  with  New 
Orleans  by  ferry  boats,  which  run  every  five  or 
ten  minutes.  There  is  not  much  enterprise  here, 
as  all  the  business  is  done  in  the  city.  It  is  not  a 
separate  parish  from  the  city,  as  one  mayor  con- 
trols the  affairs  of  both  places.     Beelzebub  has 


^2  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

his  headquarters  here,  and  his  court  and  his  or- 
ders take  the  premium.  The  Sabbath  is  not  re- 
spected. Mechanics  labor  and  stevedores  flock 
and  flutter  about  the  ships.  You  will  find  human 
beings  as  thick  on  the  ballroom  floor  on  Sunday 
as  fleas  on  a  dog's  head.  And  this  is  only  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  wickedness  indulged  in  here  on 
the  Sabbath.  But  our  Church  is  progressing. 
We  have  just  had  a  glorious  revival.  Our  forces 
were  drawn  up  in  line  in  pitched  battle  with  the 
devil  and  artillery  of  hell.  After  a  heavy  conflict 
for  several  weeks  the  battle  subsided.  When  the 
smoke  was  over  we  picked  up  thirty  souls  hap- 
pily converted  to  God.  Bishop  Ward  was  with 
us  about  eight  weeks  ago.  He  organized  a  new 
mission  work  in  this  city.  He  threw  two  or  three 
bombshells  against  the  forces  of  Catholicism, 
crippled,  wounded  and  captured  several  of  their 
troops,  and  moved  on  down  the  line,  leaving  the 
bovs  to  push  the  battle  to  the  gate. 

A.  H.  NEWTON. 
June  21,  1877. 


Word  from  Algiers,  La. 

For  the  Christian  Recorder. 

Mr.  Editor :  Elder  A.  H.  Newton  has  charge 
of  the  branch  of  African  Methodism  of  Algiers, 
La.     When  Elder  Newton  arrived  in  Algiers  he 


ARTICLES   AND   CONTRIBUTIONS  24:^ 


found  the  church  in  an  almost  hopeless  condi- 
tion, there  being  but  ten  members  belonging  to 
the  fold,  and  as  far  as  Sabbath  School  was  con- 
cerned, they  hardly  knew  what  it  meant.     The 
majority  of   the  people  of   color  are  Catholics. 
There  are  three  Catholic  churches  to  one  Meth- 
odist church,   therefore  he  had  to  labor   under 
great  disadvantages,  but  with  King  Jesus  as  his 
Captain,  the  Bible  as  his  shield,  he  fought  the 
battle    bravely    and    gained    the    victory.      Our 
church  now  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.     We 
are  doing  a  good  work.    Instead  of  ten  members 
we  have  ten  times  ten,  and  they  are  coming  to 
the  fold  every  day.    We  have  the  finest  Sabbath 
School  in  the  State  of  Louisiana.    There  are  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  members,  and  still  the>' 
come.     Our  superintendent,  Prof.  J.  H.  Corbin, 
is  alive  to  our  Sabbath  School.    He  is  pious,  kind 
and  educated.    The  children  all  love  him,  and  in 
no  Sunday  School  throughout  our  entire  connec- 
tion could  you  find  a  better  superintendent  than 
he.    He  is  also  the  principal  of  the  colored  school 
of  Algiers.     Our  musical  director,  Prof.  S.  W. 
Otts,  is  also  one  of  our  bright  stars.     He  makes 
the  walls  of  Zion  ring  with  melodies  from  the 
•'Gospel  Songs."    Miss  O.  B.  Flowers,  the  assis- 
tant princial  of  the  colored  school  of  this  city 
is  also  a  noble  worker  in  our  Sabbath  School.    As 
a  teacher  she  is  interesting,  and  she  is  also  the 


244  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

embodiment  of  Christian  forbearance.  We  have 
a  very  intelHgent  corps  of  teachers,  and,  alto- 
gether, our  school  is  progressing  quite  rapidly. 
When  Elder  Newton  came  to  Algiers  there  was 
not  a  book  in  the  Sabbath  School  library^  not 
even  a  Testament;  but  ^vith  the  help  of  God  we 
have  been  enabled  to  get  Testaments,  Bibles  and 
Catechisms,  and  we  also  have  an  organ.  All  this 
has  been  done  in  three  months.  In  another  three 
months  we  have  hopes  of  as  much  more  being 
accomplished.  Our  agent  for  the  Christian  Re- 
corder is  Mrs.  Lula  L.  Newton.  She  sells  as  many 
papers  as  are  sent  her,  and  could  sell  as  many 
more  if  she  had  them.  The  people  take  quite  an 
interest  in  the  paper,  simply  because  it  is  edited 
and  published  by  our  own  color. 

For  the  last  week  we  have  had  a  practical  ef- 
fort, six  souls  have  been  added  to  our  number 
and  we  have  prospects  of  as  many  more.  Al- 
giers bids  fair  of  becomJng  one  of  the  strong- 
holds of  the  connection.  In  the  city  of  New  Or- 
leans, Bishop  Ward  (blessings  on  his  venerable 
head!)  has  organized  a  new  mission,  which  the 
elder  in  charge — Elder  Cargile — with  the  help 
of  the  Lord  and  good  management,  is  making  a 
good  charge.  The  people  in  this  city  are  very 
wicked,  some  of  them,  although  in  a  Christian 
land  and  among  Christian  people,  are  worse  than 
heathen.    They  have  never  read  the  Bible.     The 


ARTICLES  AND   CONTRIBUTIONS  245 

Bishop,  knowing  this,  organized  the  mission  in 
the  most  wicked  portion  of  the  city,  and  it  is  pro- 
gressing finely. 

ADA  A.  NEWTON. 
April  4,  1877. 


Word  from  Algiers,  La. 

For  the  Christian  Recorder. 

Mr.  Editor:  I  am  glad  to  say  that  our  church 
is  gaining  ground.  Christians  are  a  unit  in  this 
place  in  laboring  for  the  building  of  Christ's  king- 
dom. Meetings  are  being  held  everywhere,  with 
very  marked  results.  Elder  James  Madison  is 
carrying  on  a  great  work  in  St.  James.  He  seems 
to  be  determined  that  every  valley  shall  be  filled 
and  every  hill  made  low.  I  think  that  he  is  the 
right  man  in  the  right  place.  The  Elder  visited 
my  Sabbath  School  and  addressed  the  children. 
He  expressed  himself  as  highly  pleased  with  the 
progress  of  the  church  and  school. 

Elder  Lazarus  Gardiner,  of  St.  Peter's  Chapel, 
is  scattering  Gospel  seed  and  contending  against 
the  assaults  of  sin,  at  the  head  of  noble-hearted 
workers  for  the  success  of  African  Methodism  in 
this  State.  They  have  paid  five  hundred  dollars 
on  their  new  church  and  have  arranged  for  the 
payment  of  another  five  hundred  when  due.    The 


246  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

Elder  is  up  and  a-doing.     God  speed  him  on  his 
journey ! 

Dr.  George  W.  Bryant  is  sounding  the  Gospel 
trumpet  from  the  battlements  of  Zion  at  the 
Union  Bethel.  He  is  master  of  the  situation.  If 
our  Gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  unto  them  that  are 
lost.  The  Baptist  church  is  also  doing  a  great 
work  in  this  place.  I  was  at  a  union  meeting  at 
the  Rev.  James  Chaig's  church,  a  Baptist  brother, 
and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  filled  the  house. 
It  was  densely  packed.  The  conference  of  glad 
voices  giving  praise  to  God  was  a  heaven  below. 
Brother  Benjamin  Buchannon  also  held  a  union 
meeting  last  Sabbath,  which  was  a  complete  suc- 
cess. Fully  three  thousand  people  were  present. 
The  church  and  the  yard  were  literally  packed. 
God  bless  these  brethren !  May  they  live  long 
and  continue  as  instruments  in  the  hands  of  God, 
enemies  to  ignorance  and  friends  to  holiness !  J. 
H.  Scie,  P.  E.,  is  on  the  scout,  I  presume,  al- 
though I  have  not  heard  from  Elder  Thomas. 
And  Elder  Burch  I  can  give  no  account  of,  as  I 
have  no  news  from  their  district  since  Confer- 
ence. 

A.  H.  NEWTON. 

June  5,  1877. 


ARTICLES  AND   CONTRIBUTIONS  241 


Dedication  of  Macedonia  Church. 

The  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton  was  ably  assisted  in 
the  service  of  dedicating  the  beautiful  new  Mace- 
donia  Church   in   Camden,   N.   J.,   last   Sunday. 
The  dedicatory  service  was  conducted  and  ser- 
mon preached  by  Bishop  A.  W.  Wayman,  D.D., 
at  II  A.  M.     In  the  afternoon  the  editor  of  the 
Christian  Recorder  and  at  night  Macedonia's  ex- 
pastor,    Rev.    W.    H.    Yocum,    B.D.,    preached. 
There  were  present  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Mills,  Rev.  J. 
W.  Cooper,  T.  N.  Allen,  S.  B.  WiUiams,  G.  S. 
Smith,  T.  Gould,  L.  J.  Coppin,  B.  T.  Tanner, 
D.D.,  J.  H.  Bean,  J.  W.  Becket,  D.D.,  W.  Rice 
and   G.   M.   Witten,   of   our  church,   and   S.   P. 
Smith,  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.     There  may  have  been  other  minis- 
ters present.     In  the  afternoon  the  audience  of 
the  main  audience  room  overflowed,  filling  the 
basement,  where  they  were  addressed  in  a  good 
sermon  deliverd  by  Rev.  G.  M .  Witten.   The  col- 
lection of  the  day  amounted  to  over  $900.    Mace- 
donia has  been  partly  described  while  in  course 
of  erection.     It  is  of  brick,  the  windows  are  of 
beautiful  stained  glass,  the  floor  is  entirely  car- 
peted, the  pulpit  is  furnished,  the  gas  jets,  the 
excellent  finish  of  the  entire  building  within  and 
without    command    our    congratulation    to    our 
Brother  Newton  and  constituents,  who  with  him, 


-24f«  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

as  well  as  with  his  predecessor,  Elder  Yocum, 
under  whose  pastorate  the  building  was  started, 
erected  and  enclosed,  have  been  faithful. 
October  24,  1886. 


Another  Account  of  the  Dedication  of  the 
Macedonia   Church. 

For  the  Christian  Recorder. 

Mr.  Editor :  In  the  midst  of  the  ranges  of 
thought  and  sentiment,  and  while  the  busy  world 
was  moving  on  in  the  grand  march  of  improve- 
ment, the  Church  of  the  Living  God  is  unfolding 
and  developing  everywhere  The  Kingdom  of 
Christ  is  gaining  territory  in  the  marts  of  men. 

Sunday,  October  24th,  the  Macedonia  A.  M. 
E.  Church  of  Camden,  N.  J.,  was  dedicated  with 
imposing  services.  Indeed,  I  venture  the  asser- 
tion that  it  was  the  grandest  occasion  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  congregation.  ^lore  than  forty  years 
ago  a  few  fathers  and  mothers,  African  Metho- 
~  dists,  concluded  to  build  the  house  to  God  in  that 
^ity,  all  of  whom  have  finished  their  well-begun 
work,  and  have  fallen  asleep;  but  Brother  Wil- 
son, Father  Sample,  Mother  Quinn  and  Sister 
Hill.  The  younger  men  and  women,  inspired  by 
the  fathers,  took  hold  where  they  left  off  and 
Jiave  carried   forward   the  work  until  the  third 


AKTR'LKS   AM)   C<  )XTHI1JI'TI()NS  LM!» 

building  is  successfully  reared  on  the  same  lot ; 
but  the  glory  of  the  latter  house  is  greater  than 
the  former.  The  members  and  congregation 
needed  this  new  church  seventeen  years  before 
it  was  built.  They  were  losing  their  congrega- 
tion of  young  people,  their  societies  were  taking 
their  start  from  Old  Macedonia  until  eight  other 
churches  were  built  in  Camden.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  one  or  two,  Macedonia  was  the  poorest. 
Standing  two  and  one-half  feet  below  the  grade 
of  the  street  might  be  seen  a  small  flat-roof  house 
covered  with  felt,  pitch  and  gravel;  this  was  the 
A.  M.  E.  church  with  a  gallery  all  around  it,  yet 
some  of  our  ablest  ministers  had  pastored  there. 
After  I  had  labored  three  years  in  the  city  of 
Providence,  R.  L,  in  August,  Bishop  John  M. 
Brown  said  to  me,  "Brother  Yeocum,  we  have 
needed  a  new  church  in  Camden  for  years,  can 
you  not  go  there  and  build  that  church.  You 
will  find  a  good  lot  of  people.  We  must  have  a 
church  there  that  will  compare  with  the  churches 
in  Philadelphia  or  we  shall  lose  all  that  we  have." 
On  the  22nd  of  August  I  found  myself  in  Cam- 
den, N.  T.,  and  it  was  not  long  before  we  com- 
menced talking  about  the  new  church.  About 
the  last  of  October  our  first  grand  rally  netted 
us  $575.00;  at  the  last  service  in  the  old  building 
we  raised  about  $300.00  and  soon  $1,000.00  were 
in  hand.     The  old  church  was  taken  down  and 


260  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

many  were  fearful  that  the  church  would  never 
go  up  again.  We  took  the  congregation  some  dis- 
tance from  its  stamping  ground  to  what  is  known 
as  "Kaighnsville"  and  worshipped  in  our  mission 
school-house  just  in  the  rear  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Z. 
Church.  Here  we  remained  eighteen  months 
while  the  carpenters  and  masons  were  working 
on  the  present  noble  structure.  There  were  many 
discouragements  and  trying  circumstances  con- 
fronting us,  but  we  toiled  on  trusting  in  the  Lord 
whose  work  it  was.  The  tribes  led  on  by  the 
presidents,  Mrs.  Anna  White,  the  late  Lyda  Mc- 
Coy and  Mrs.  Maggie  J.  Moseley  and  Mrs.  Liz- 
zie Green,  collected  money  perhaps  as  they  never 
expected.  It  was  simply  marvelous.  The  former, 
if  my  memory  is  correct,  raised  over  $500.00 
during  my  three  years  pastorate  while  the  build- 
ing was  being  erected. 

On  the  first  Sunday  in  December,  1885,  we 
went  into  the  basement  of  the  new  church  com- 
plete. That  was  an  occasion  of  surprise  as  well 
as  of  joy  to  the  members  of  the  congregation. 
For  many  a  Job's  comforter  had  prophesied  that 
it  would  not  go  up  again,  while  others  laughed 
saying,  ''Aha!  Aha!"  "Where  is  their  church 
now?"  Perhaps  some  said,  "What  they  do  build, 
if  a  fox  go  up  thereon,  it  will  break  down."  In 
April,  1885,  I  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  A.  H. 
Newton,  who  is  a  successful,   energetic  pastor, 


ARTICLES  AND  CONTRIBUTIONS  !iot 

who  does  not  sit  down  or  stand  still  waiting  for 
something  to  turn  up  in  his  favor,  like  some  pas- 
tors. But  he  goes  to  work  with  such  vim  and  is 
here  and  there  so  much  among  his  members  that 
one  following  him  learns  that  Rev.  Newton  has 
been  there.  With  this  spirit  he  carried  to  comple- 
tion this  fine  and  beautiful  church.  He  and  his 
members  deserve  much  credit.  The  church  has  all 
the  modern  improvements  and  many  say  that  it 
is  the  finest  A.  M.  E.  church  in  New  Jersey.  I 
do  not  remember  the  dimensions  but  it  is  a  large 
two-story  brick  building  with  a  cellar  below 
where  all  the  heating  is  done.  On  entering  the 
front  door  there  is  a  stair-way  leading  to  the 
audience  room  on  the  right  and  on  the  left.  Be- 
fore entering  the  lecture  room  there  is  a  fine 
study  and  lecture  and  class  room  with  frosted 
windows.  The  ceiling  of  the  basement  is  high, 
it  is  easily  ventilated,  the  windows  of  the  best 
enameled  glass.  There  is  no  paint  on  the  wood 
work,  simply  finished  in  oil,  thus  retaining  the 
natural  color  of  the  yellow  pine.  The  audience 
room  is  large  with  three  isles,  one  in  the  center 
and  one  on  each  side,  with  a  door  at  each  isle, 
making  the  exit  very  easy.  There  is  a  large 
gallery  across  the  front,  making  the  seating 
capacity  about  550.  The  windows  are  the  best 
variegated  stained  glass.  In  each  there  is  a 
memorial  to  Bishop  R.  H.  Cain,  the  Rev.  A.  H. 


OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 


Newton,  W.  H.  Yeocum  and  Mr.  Perry  Wilson, 
the  oldest  member.  The  ceiling  is  very  high, 
carved  and  angled,  with  two  large  reflectors 
which  give  a  mellow,  beautiful  light.  Unlike 
many  of  our  churches  all  the  floor  is  carpeted 
and  the  fine  furniture  on  the  pulpit,  together 
with  the  splendid  pipe  organ,  make  an  elegant 
finish. 

At  10:30  a.  m.,  after  the  usual  form,  Bishop 
A.  W.  Wayman,  D.D.,  preached  one  of  his  noted 
sermons  which  was  well  received  by  the  people, 
the  text  being,  ''Who  is  she  that  looketh  fair  as 
the  morning?"  And  Rev.  B.  F.  Lee,  D.D., 
preached  a  most  elegant,  instructive,  sermon  at 
3  p.  m.  The  congregation  was  so  large  that  the 
Rev.  G.  'M.  Witten  preached  to  a  crowded  base- 
ment also  at  the  same  hour.  At  7  p.  m.  your 
humble  servant  tried  to  preach  from  Rev.  i:ii, 
'T  am  Alpha  and  Omega,"  the  theme  being, 
''Christ,  the  First  and  the  Last."  The  collection 
was  $900.00,  which  was  very  good  considering 
the  circumstances  of  our  people.  The  visiting 
members  present  were  Dr.  B.  T.  Tanner,  Rev. 
J.  W.  Cooper,  Rev.  G.  A.  Mills,  Rev.  S.  B.  Wil- 
liams, Rev.  W.  A.  Rice,  Rev.  J.  H.  Bean,  Rev. 
J.  H.  Morgan  and  Rev.  L.  J.  Coppin. 

Rev.  William  H.  Yeocum,  B.D. 
Trenton,  New  Jersey, 


®p0nl«tton0.  l£tr. 


jSli*B0lutt0ttfl.  iEtr. 


Little  Rock,  Ark. 

Whereas,  The  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton,  since  his 
advent  in  our  midst  as  pastor  of  Bethel  A.  M.  E. 
Church  and  subsequently,  became  superintendent 
of  our  Sabbath  School,  demonstrating  a  great 
love  for  the  Sabbath  School  and  zealously  desi- 
rous of  promoting  its  complete  success  as  a  place 
of  reform  and  education  for  the  young,  has  ar- 
dently labored  to  extend  its  usefulness  and  sound 
religious  and  moral  teachings  in  the  minds  of  our 
youthful  members,  has  striven  to  lead  the  young 
to  religious  devotion,  has  spared  no  pains  to 
cause  the  officers  and  teachers  to  imbibe  the  same 
zeal,  and,  being  a  devotee  to  music,  has  caused 
its  uplifting  influence  to  flow  among  us,  leading 
our  voices  to  leap  forth  in  joyous  strains  in  ado- 
ration to  our  King  of  kings,  and  to  promote  a 
higher  intellectual  and  spiritual  standard  among 
officers,  members  and  scholars,  and  has  sown  the 
seed  that  will  bring  forth  an  abundant  harvest 
when  his  hoary  head  is  laid  to  rest  in  its  last  rest- 
ing place ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  i.  That  the  officers  and  teachers  of 
the  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  S.  S.  give  to  Rev.  A.  H. 


256  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

Newton  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the  expending  of 
his  time  and  labors  in  promoting  our  welfare. 

2.  That  we  commend  him  to  his  many  Chris- 
tian friends  for  his  many  deeds  of  kindness  and 
labors  of  love,  for  both  our  temporal  and  spirit- 
ual good. 

3.  That  the  above  preamble  and  resolutions  be 
recorded  by  our  secretary,  and  a  copy  be  given 
to  him. 

H.  T.  BROWN, 
W.  H.  SMITH, 
G.  W.  OLIVER, 

Committee. 
November  19,  1876. 


Respecting  Rev.  A.  H.  New^ton. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and. members  of 
the  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  Church,  held  in  this  city  in 
1876,  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions 
were  adopted : 

Whereas,  He  has  served  us  faithfully  for  one 
year  as  pastor  of  Bethel  Station,  in  this  city,  and 
labored  faithfully  and  honestly  to  build  up  our 
Sabbath  School  and  other  organizations  placed 
under  his  charge  by  the  General  Conference; 
and 

Whereas,  He  has  taken  special  pains  to  instill 
into  the  minds  of  the  young  of  the  church  the 


RESOLUTIONS,  ETC  ^5^7 


grand   and   beneficent   principles   of   temperance 
iind  morality;  and 

,:•  Whereas,  His  Christian  conduct,  scholarly  at- 
tainments and  liberal  views  have  endeared  him 

unto  us ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we,  officers  and  members  of 
the  Bethel  Church,  do  hereby  tender  to  him  our 
heartfelt  thanks  for  the  noble  work  he  has  done 
among  us,  and  we  will  ever  pray  that  the  bless- 
ings of  Ahnighty  God  may  rest  upon  him  and 
his  family,  and  aid  him  in  his  new  work  to  ac- 
complish good  work  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 
presented  to  Brother  Newton,  and  that  they  be 
published  in  the  Little  Rock  daily  papers. 

G.  W.  OLIVER,  Secretar>'. 

November  i8,  1876. 


Macedonia  Church  Endeavors  to  Retain  Their 
_, ,  Pastor. 

Camden,  N.  J. 

ToUhe  Presiding  Elder  and   Members  of   the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  Macedonia  A.  M. 
E.  Church: 
Whereas,  The  New  Jersey  Annual  Conference 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  will  hold  its  annual  ses- 
sion at  Trenton  April  20;  and 

Whereas,   Another  year's   faithful   service' 'of 


2S8  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

our  pastor,  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton,  will  expire;  and 
Whereas,  His  Christian  deportment  and  liberal 
viiews,   his   gentlemanly   and   agreeable   qualities 
have  endeared  him  to  us ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Mace- 
donia Quarterly  Conference,  do,  for  his  two  year's 
of  earnest  labor  in  the  upbuilding  and  finishing 
of  our  church  and  increasing  our  membership, 
tender  him  our  heartiest  thanks;  and 

Resolved,  That  in  this  he  has  our  heartiest  re- 
gard  and  the  good  wishes  of  the  members  of  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  and  we  sincerely  hope  that 
his  future  may  be  as  bright  and  prosperous^  as 
he  may  hope  or  desire,  and  we  also  pray  that  the 
Bishop  may  return  him  to  us  for  another  year.;., 
Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  minutes  be  pre- 
sented to  Rev.  A,  H.  Newton  and  be  printed  in 

the.  Sentinel  and  the  Tribune. ; 

Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Quarterly  Conference 
of  the  Macedonia  A.  M.  E.  Church. 

WILLIAM  STEVENSON, 
.      .  JAMES  HURT,  ;- 

CHARLES  COX, 
EZEKIEL  WALLACE, 
GEORGE  ROBERTS, 
JAMES  BRISCOE. 
March  24,  1887.  | 


RESOLUTIONS,  KTO.  259 


Notice. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Newton,  pastor  of  the  Bethel  A. 
M.  E.  Church,  has  been  transferred  to  the  Lou- 
isiana Conference.  We  regret  to  lose  Mr.  New- 
ton from  this  city,  as  gentlemen  of  his  attain- 
ments are  none  too  plenty  in  the  ranks  of  the  A. 
M.  E.  ministry.  Aside  from  being  hberally  edu- 
cated, he  has  shown  a  practical  Christian  spirit 
and  work  since  his  residence  in  this  city.  He  is 
to  be  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Jenifer. 


East  Camden,  N.  J. 

^At  the  last  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Ho- 
sanna  A.  M.  E.  Church  the  following  resolutions 
were  offered  by  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Chase : 

Whereas,  The  church  has  prospered  under  the 
presiding  eldership  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton  for 
the' past  four  years;  and 

Whereasi  This  is  his  last  year  and  Quarterly 
Conference ;  be  it  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  return  to  him  our  grateful 
thanks  for  the  manner  in  which  he  has  conducted 
the  business  of  the  church,  and  pray  that  the  bless- 
ings of  God  may  rest  on  his  labors;  and 

Whereas,  In  the  appointment  of  the  Rev.  F. 
A.  Sherman  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Rev. 
G.  B.  Smith  has  proven  a  blessing  to  the  church 


iiV©  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

and  the  community ;  we  pray  that  he  may  be  suc- 
cessful in  preaching  the  Word  of  God ;  and 

Whereas,  He  has  been  zealous  and  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties,  both  temporal  and 
spiritual;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  he  has  our  prayers  and  best 
wishes  for  his  future  success. 

HARRY  INGRAM, 
WILLIAM  INGRAM, 
DAVID  CORSE, 
JOHN  TOULKS, 
BENJAMIN  INGRAM, 
NATHANIEL  INGRAM, 
GARDNER  INGRAM, 
HEZEKIAH  COMMARGER, 

Church  Officers. 
March  14,  1896. 


Resolutions  of  Respect. 

The  Fourth  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Mt. 
Zion  A.  M.  E.  Church,  at  its  regular  session, 
adopted  the  following  resolutions: 

Whereas,  The  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton,  having 
served  us  as  pastor,  and  as  he  is  near  the  termi- 
nation of  his  administration,  it  is  the  honor  that 
should  be  given  to  whom  it  is  due  and  credit  to 
those  who  justly  merit  it ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  members  of  this  Qbarterlr 
Conference  that  in  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton  we 


KKHOIiUTlONS,  ETC.  Mi 


recognize  a  faithful  Gospel  minister  and  ener- 
getic worker  in  his  Master's  vineyard;  and  furr 
thermore  we  recognize  him  as  a  gentleman  whose 
character  is  irreproachable  and  whose  ministe- 
rial bearing  and  executive  ability  commend 
themselves  to  the  judgment  of  the  intelHgent.; 
and  furthermore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  highly  appreciate  his  effi- 
cient management  of  the  temporal,  financial  and 
spiritual  interests  of  the  church,  and  whose  ad- 
ministration of  two  years  has  been  one  of  per- 
fect tranquillity  and  fraternal  feeling,  one  of  its 
prominent  characteristics;  and  be  it 

Resolved,  That  in  giving  him  our  testimony  of 
appreciation  we  would  not  forget  his  companion 
and  coadjutor  in  his  ministerial  work,  and  do 
highly  esteem  her  as  a  Christian  lady  for  her  un- 
tiring perseverance  and  devotion  that  has  char- 
acterized her  during  her  husband's  administra- 
tion; 


Mt.  Zion  A.  M.  E.  Church.  ; 

The  quarterly  meeting  of  Mt.  Zion  Church 
last  Sunday  was  a  grand  success.  The  Rev.  A. 
H,.  Newton,  the  pastor,  is  very  energetic  and  a 
grand  church  worker.  Rev.  Gilbert  T.  Waters 
preached  a  noble  sermon  in  the  afternoon.  Tt^ 
Rev.    Thomas   held   the   audience   spellbound   a.t 


262  OUT  OF  THE   BRIARS 

night.  Elder  J.  H.  Morgan  consecrated  the  ele- 
ments and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper,  with 
the  assistance  of  Elder  Thomas.  The  church 
was  crowded  afternoon  and  evening.  There  were 
many  strangers  present,  who  expressed  them- 
selves benefited  during  the  day.  Mrs.  Lulu  L. 
Newton  left  last  Monday  morning  to  spend  a 
few  days  in  Camden. and  Philadelphia  with  old 
friends.  Mrs.  Ada  A.  Harris,  daughter  of  Rev. 
A.  H.  Newton,  will  spend  some  time  in  Atlantic 
City  before  returning  to  Raleigh,  N.  C.  Elder 
A.  H.  Newton  has  raised  $900  since  Conference 
for  church  purposes.  The  congregation  of  Mt. 
Zion  are  well  pleased  with  the  appointment  of 
the  Bishop.  The  Sabbath  School  of  Mt.  Zion 
will  give  a  grand  concert  in  the  near  future,  con- 
ducted by  Mrs.  Ada  A.  Harris,  for  the  purpose 
of  getting  new  singing  books.  The  collection  at 
Mt.  Zion  last  Sunday  was  $45.83. 

The  members  of  Mt.  Zion  Church  tendered 
their  pastor,  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton,  a  nice  little 
surprise  in  honor  of  the  reverend  gentleman's 
fiftieth  birthday.  They  had  a  good  time  and  left 
many  substantial  tokens  of  their  regard. 


The  Obituary  of  the  Rev.  William  Watson. 

The  Rev.  William  Watson,  a  member  of  the 
New  Jersey  A.  M.  E.  Conference,  died  at  his 
residence  in  Woodbury,  N.  J.,  Tuesday,  August 


RESOLUTIONS,  KTO.  26^i 


7,  1888.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  preachers  of 
the  Conference,  and  was  therefore  regarded  as 
the  "Father  of  the  Conference." 

The  funeral  services  were  held  August  9  at  the 
A.  M.  E.  church,  Woodbury,  N.  J.  The  Rev.  J, 
T.  Rex  preached  the  sermon,  which  was  very 
impressive,  and  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton  and  Rev 
Johns  made  very  appropriate  remarks  concern- 
ine  the  character  and  usefulness  of  the  deceased. 
Friday,  August  loth,  the  body  was  carried  to 
Frankford,  Pa.,  where  services  were  held  in  the 
church,  when  eulogies  were  delivered  by  Elder 
G.  A.  Mills,  Bishop  Turner,  Elder  J.  W.  Cooper 
and  others.  Rev.  A.  H.  Newton  read  the  follow- 
ing resolution : 

Whereas,  we  reaHze  the  fact  that  we  sustain  a 
great  loss  by  the  decease  of  our  dear  brother  and 
colaborer  in  the  work  of  the  Master;  be  it  there- 
fore 

Resolved,  That  it  is  but  a  just  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  our  brother  who  has  been  taken  from 
us  to  say  that  in  his  removal  from  our  midst  we 
mourn  for  one  who  was  in  every  way  worthy  of 
our  respect  and  our  regard ; 

Resolved,  That  while  we  bow  in  humble  sub- 
mission to  the  hand  of  Divine  Providence,  and 
while  sorrow  for  the  less  of  a  good  man,  a  kind 
shepherd,  a  faithful  and  beloved  minister,  we  find 


'2ft4  OUT  OF  THE  BRIARS 

consolation  in  the  belief  that  "it  is  well  witti 
him."  He  fell  at  his  post,  and  we  believe  that 
he  has  triumphantly  entered  the  Haven  of  Eter- 
nal Rest. 

Resolved,  That  we  also  remember  the  family 
in  the  hour  of  affliction  and  trial,  we  tenderly 
condole  with  and  devoutly  commend  them  to  the 
keeping  of  Him  who  looks  with  pity  on  the 
widow  and  fatherless,  and  that  we  share  with 
them  the  hope  of  a  reunion  in  that  better  land 
Avhere  death  and  separation  are  forever  unknown. 
Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 
presented  to  the  family  and  printed  in  the  Chris>- 
tian  Recorder  and  other  papers.  ; 

REV.  J.  T.  REX, 

REV.  A.  H.  NEWTON, 

REV.  G.  M.  WITTEN, 

REV.  WALTER  THOMPSON, 

Committee.  . 


LODGE  NOTICES.  , 

'■  Past  Grand  Master  P.  T.  Colding,  G.  Bailey, 
W.  O.  Castor,  A.  H.  Newton,  Rev.  Bean  arid 
ttwenty  others  of  the  State  of  New  Jerse]^  paid 
■Prince  Hall  Lodge,  No.  lo,  a  fraternal  visit  oft 
last  Wednesday.  Short  addresses  were  deliv- 
-ered  by  those  present. 


K  EHOL  U T  ION  8 ,;  KT( ' .  2«r. 

Last  week  we  left  out  the  names  of  the  officers- 
elect  of  the  Grand  Chapter:  S.  N.  Robinsbn,  M. 
E.  G.  P.,  P.  L.  Colding,  R.  D.  G.  H.  P.,  Camden ; 
W.  H.  Jackson,  R.  E.  G.  K.,  Bordentown;  A.  H. 
Newton,  R.  E.  G.  S.,  Trenton;  J.  L.  Derrick,  R. 
W.  G.  Treasurer,  Camden;  W.  F.  Powell,  R.  W. 
Grand  Secretary,  Burlington;  W.  H.  Douglas, 
R.  W.  Dist.  Dept,,  Plainfield. 


Madams  Pitts,  Daniels,  Webb,  Hack  and  New- 
ton have  been  assiduous  in  their  eflForts  in  mak- 
ing the  fair  a  success. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Damascus  Commandfery, 
K.  T.,  No.  4,  Trenton,  the  following  officers -were 
elected:  Sir  A.  H.  Newton>  Em.  Com.;  Sir  J. 
Thornton,  Gen. ;  John  Seruby,  Capt.  General. 


Rev.  A.  H.  Newton,  Chaplain  of  the  Senate, 
Tre^nton,  N.  j. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Newton  has  been  appointed  Chap- 
lain of  the  State  Senate,  Trenton,  N.  J.  Thus 
we  creep  up.  This  is  a  great  honor  to  Rev.  New- 
ton, as  well  as  the  race.  ;  We  congratulate  him. 

March  29th- April  jd.  .,       •, 


266  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

Camden,  N.  J.,  August  20,  1894. 
The  Adjutant-General  W.  S.  Arcory,  W.  S.  U. 
S.  A.,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Dear  Sir:  Will  you  please  inform  me  of  the 
probable  number  of  troops  enlisted  during  the 
Civil  War,  those  having  died  from  wounds,  being 
sick  in  hospitals,  and  the  number  of  those  killed 
on  th^  battlefield? 

AUo  please  advise  me  of  the  cost  of  the  war, 
how  many  colored  soldiers  enlisted,  the  years  they 
enlisted,  and  the  first  battle  they  engaged  in. 
Very  respectfully  yours, 

A.  H.  NEWTON. 

The  following  was  the  reply  to  the  above: 

Address:  "Chief  of  the  Record  and  Pension  Office, 
War  Department,  Washington,  D.  C." 

RECORD  AND   PENSION   OFFICE, 
War  Department, 
Washington,  August   24,    1894. 
Respectfully  returned  to 

Mr.  A.  H.  Newton,  332  Washington  St.,  Camden, 
N.J. 

Inviting  attention  to  the  accompanying  printed 
statement  showing  the  number  of  troops  furnished 
by  the  several  States  and  Territories  under  the  dif- 
ferent calls  by  the  President,  including  the  number 
of  colored  troops. 

According  to  the  latest  official  compilation,  67,058 
officers  and  men  were  killed  in  action,  and  292,470 
died  of  wounds  or  disease  during  the  war. 


RESOLUTIONS,  ETC.  267 


According  to  a  statement  made  by  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  on  June  lO,  1880,  "the  expenditures 
of  the  go\err.n  ent  en  account  of  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  from  July  i,  1861  to  June  30,  1879,"  in- 
cluding interest  on  the  public  debt,  "aggregated  $6,- 
189,929,908.58."  The  amount  expended  since  the 
latter  date  is  not  shown  by  any  statistics  filed  in 
this  Department. 

The  first  authorized  enlistment  of  U.  S.  colored 
troops  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion  was  made  in 
the  State  of  Louisiana  in  1862.  No  detailed. in- 
formation as  to  the  organization  and  service  of  col- 
ored troops  can  readily  be  furnished  from  data  now 

accessible. 

(one  enclosure) 

By  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War: 

F.    C.    AlNSWoRTH, 

Colonel,  U.  S.  Army,  Chief  of  Office. 
Per 

The  Legal  Form  of  Apprenticeship  Used  in  the 

Case  of  A.  H.  Newton. 

State  of  North  Carolina, 

County  of  Craven, 

ss '. 

This  Indenture,  made  the  eighteenth  day  of 

December,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1852,  between 
the  Worshipful  WilHam  S.  Blackledge,  Esq., 
Chairman  and  Presiding  Justice  of  the  Court  of 
Pleas  and  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  county  afore- 
said, of  the  one  part,  and  Jacob  Gooding,  of  the 
same  county,  of  the  other  part, 


^m  OUT  OP  THE  BRIARS 

Witnesseth,  That  the  said  Presiding  Justice, 
in  pursuance  of  an  order  of  said  Court,  doth  put, 
place  and  bind,  unto  said  Jacob  Gooding,  a  free 
boy  of  color,  an  orphan,  named  Alexander  >H. 
Newton,  aged  17  years  i6th  July,  1852,  with  the 
said  Jacob  Gooding,  to  live  after  the  manner  of 
an  apprentice  and  servant  until  he  shall  attain 
the  age  of  21  years.  During  which  time  the  said 
apprentice  his  said  Master  shall  faithfully  serve, 
and. his  lawful  commands  gladly  obey,  and  not 
absent  himself  from  his  Master's  service  without 
leave,  but  in  all  things  as  a  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant  shall  behave. 

And  tlie  said  Jacob  Gooding  doth  covenant, 
promise  and  agree,  with  the  said  Presiding  Jus- 
tice, that  he  will  teach  and  instruct,  or  cause -to 
be  taught  and  instructed,  the  said  apprentice  the 
art  and  mystery  of  a  bricklayer  and  mason,  ,ati$l 
constantly  find  and  provide  for  the  said  appre^rij- 
tice,  during  the  term  aforesaid,  sufficient  dift, 
washing,  lodging  and  apparel  fitting  an  appi'en- 
tice,  and  also  all  other  things  necessary  both  in 
sickness  and  jn  health,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
s^id  apprenticeship  will  pay  to  said  apprentice 
•six  .dollars  an4  furnish  him  with  a  new  SiuitiO.f* 
cJotl-yes  and  a  new  Bible. 


RKSOLUTIONS,  KTC.  Mi) 

In  witness  whereof,  the  parties  have  hereunto 
set  their  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  afore- 
said. 

J.  GOODING.  (Seal) 

William  blackledge.   (Seai) 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered 

in  the  presence  of 

J.  G.  Stanly. 

State  of  North  Carolina, 

County  of  Craven, 
ss: 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy 

of  the  original  filed  in  this  office. 

Witness  my  hand  and  official  seal  this  22d  day 

of  August,  1878. 

S.  W.  CARPENTER,  C.  S.  C, 

Per  J.  B.  Willis,  Deputy. 

(Seal  Superior  Court.) 


e^ 


Microfilmed 
SOLfNET/ASERLPROJEC 


